Plans to demolish hundred year old mill in Oldham rejected

The mill on Gould Street in Oldham

A mill that has stood for more than 100 years has been saved from demolition after planning chiefs rejected plans for new industrial buildings.

Proposals had been submitted to OIdham council to knock down a large red brick mill on Gould Street, which was built around 1880.

The Applicant, Roger Hannah and Co Ltd, also wanted to partly demolish a 1960s unit – the Hartley building – and erect three new ‘state of the art’ industrial storage units on the site.

But the town hall decided to turn down the plans, after highways engineers ruled creating a new access to serve the development would result in safety issues on the surrounding roads.

The additional access would have been sited along Gould Street towards Stampstone Street.

Officers acknowledged the development would create ‘some increased employment opportunities’.

However, case officer Hannah Lucitt’s report states: “The highway engineer has raised serious concerns concerning the suitability of the use of Gould Street as the main access for this type of unit.”

Engineers were concerned there would not be enough turning room for heavy goods vehicles, which would lead to them doing reversing manoeuvres on the roads.

This would be ‘prejudicial to traffic flow, to the detriment of the safety of highway users, including pedestrians, along with parking problems and traffic congestion within the adjacent highways’, they concluded.

In a design and access statement, the company said there had been numerous feasibility studies carried out to try and restore the derelict building, but it was not ‘financially viable or safe’ for the industrial storage usage proposed.

“Both buildings have remained vacant for some time and have been exposed to the elements,” they added.

“We believe that the proposed three new industrial units in place of the derelict and dangerous buildings that currently stand on the site will help develop business and growth in the area.”

The applicant can choose to challenge the council’s decision at an appeal.

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