Green light for major affordable housing project near Oldham town centre
Oldham is set to see nearly 150 new affordable homes replace a long-empty brownfield site after councillors approved plans for a development at the former Mumps railway area.
The scheme, for 147 properties, will be delivered by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) in partnership with Oldham Council and sits on the Southlink site south of Oldham Way. The project mixes apartment blocks with terraced, semi-detached and detached family homes.
Developers and the council say the scheme is intended both to tackle local housing need and act as a catalyst for further town-centre regeneration. FCHO’s chief executive described the planning consent as a “huge step forward”, saying the development and its open spaces would make a significant difference to the area.
"This new community and its open spaces is an important regeneration project too. It will make a big difference to the town centre," said Mark Gifford, chief executive at FCHO.
Next steps and timeline
According to FCHO, the remaining formal steps are the transfer of land ownership and the signing of outstanding contracts. The ambition is for work to start swiftly, with officials aiming to have spades in the ground in November.
The site was previously earmarked for housing and was sold by Oldham Council to construction company Vistry in 2024. Vistry has faced financial difficulties in recent years, but the land sale and subsequent planning decisions have pushed the scheme forward. Last year, permission was reapproved to demolish a vacant office block on the site as part of preparatory works.
Council vote and local concerns
The application was approved at a council planning committee meeting on 23 September. Councillors who voted in favour were:
- Josh Charters
- Umar Nasheen
- Maggie Hurley
- Garth Harkness
- Nadeem Iqbal
- Peter Klonwski
- Gary Tarbuck
Two councillors voted against the proposal. Zaheer Ali opposed the plans, and Shoab Akhtar raised concerns about potential noise and air quality impacts because of the site's proximity to Oldham Way.
Those concerns speak to the wider tension around brownfield urban development: residents and councillors want to see homes delivered quickly, but not at the expense of local environmental quality or long-term wellbeing.
What the development means for Oldham
For a town where affordable family housing is at a premium, the decision represents a material boost to supply. FCHO says it has adjusted the mix to increase the number of family homes in response to local need.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Southlink (former Oldham Mumps railway site), south of Oldham Way |
| Number of homes | 147 |
| Developers / delivery | First Choice Homes Oldham in partnership with Oldham Council; land previously sold to Vistry (2024) |
| Planned start | Ambition for November (spades in the ground) |
Beyond the homes themselves, the scheme is being pitched as regeneration: public open spaces and a new residential community that could stimulate further investment closer to the town centre. Local leaders hope it will act as a trigger for additional development on nearby sites.
That said, the planning debate underlines the need for careful delivery. Air quality, traffic and noise mitigation will be matters to watch as contracts are finalised and construction begins. Residents living near the site will expect detailed plans for phasing, protection from construction impacts and clear timescales for completion.
For many in Oldham, the sale and subsequent approval offer a glimpse of change at a site that has stood underused for years. If the developers and council stick to the stated timetable, work could be under way before the year is out — and the town will be watching closely to see whether the project delivers the affordable family homes it promises.
Key local figures and organisations: Oldham Council planning committee; First Choice Homes Oldham; Vistry Group.
