Latics’ Boundary Park homes plan moves forward

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 17 September 2009

Oldham Athletic submitted plans for 94 new houses at Boundary Park on the same day their Failsworth stadium discussions were reported to Oldham Council.

The club posted the details of the three and four-bedroom houses, to be built in a joint venture with Chadderton-based Holroy Developments, on its website yesterday.

And last night, Oldham Council heard how draft agreements are being drawn up by the authority and the club, which now has plans for a new stadium on Broadway, Failsworth.

The housing plan is for 94 homes on the site of the now demolished Clayton Arms, the executive car park and the training pitch at Boundary Park.

There will also be key worker accommodation units. Latics first got planning permission for houses and flats as part of a major rebuilding scheme for Boundary Park in December, 2007.

But the club says it is the changes in the housing market which have forced a rethink.

The joint venture has been put together by Latics’ managing director Simon Corney; Ian Hill, director of estate agents Ryder and Dutton who is also a Latics’ director; and Paul Whitehead, Holroy’s managing director.

They say: “It is seen as the best way forward for developing the Boundary Park site to ensure that all the profits from the sale of properties assists in the funding for the new stadium.”

Holroy’s Paul Whitehead said: “As a lifelong supporter, I was saddened by the fact that the club had been unable to facilitate the redevelopment of Boundary Park following the planning permission in 2007.

“I knew of the tremendous hard work put in by the board in obtaining that planning permission and did not want to see it go to waste.”