Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss scheme - Oldhamers have their say

It’s one of the biggest house-building projects proposed in Oldham in decades.

The Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss scheme would bring 1,500 new family homes, parks and sports facilities, an industrial estate and a whole new town centre to the borough. 

And with thousands waiting on housing registries, the project could be a crucial step in fighting the housing crisis, according to developer quintet Casey, Grasscroft Property, Barratt Redrow, Kellen Homes, and Wain Homes. 

But according to neighbours, there’s one big problem: it’s on a much-loved local green space. 

“They’re building on a park. That’s wrong,” 70-year-old John, who regularly walks his dog in the valley, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“Next they’ll be turning around and saying they’re building on this.” 

John gestured at the pitch at St Anne’s Rugby Club in Higginshaw.

The club was hosting the public consultation, where members of the public could voice their thoughts on the plans to consultancy firm Cavendish. 

Consultations like this tend to attract those who are sceptical about the plans.

And residents who attended certainly gave the representatives for the developers a thorough grilling. 

One issue that kept cropping up was the loss of green space. 

The site was once green belt land, but was freed up for development through Places for Everyone (PfE), a housing scheme aiming to bring more than 175,000 new homes to nine Greater Manchester boroughs. 

“I just think it’s wrong they’re building on green belt,” another long-term local who did not wish to be named told the LDRS outside the rugby club.

“They’re telling us in there that it’s not green belt anymore because of [Places for Everyone], but none of us wanted that to happen. 

“Our council even voted to leave it, but it was kicked back by she whom I shall not name,” he said, referring to Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner, whose minister rejected Oldham Council’s request to withdraw from PfE earlier this year. 

He added: “It’s going to take 15 years. So at least we’ll be dead by the time it’s done.” 

And another resident, who lives on a Higginshaw housing estate, noted that the green space was one of the few spaces where teenagers could go and relax.

The 20-year-old, who also didn’t wish to be named, said she still regularly hangs out there with friends. 

“There’s nothing else for young people like me to do. Where are we supposed to go? 

“I get they’re building new homes and a new neighbourhood, but it’s not going to work if they’re not fixing the problems that already exist in the places around it.

"There’s also big problems with crime on this estate and more crime on the other side. 

“You’re building a new neighbourhood between two crime hotspots – it’s just going to get worse.”  

And for David Garforth, 62 (pictured above), it was also about more than the loss of green space. 

“It’s massive,” he said.

“They’ve got to put 4,000 people in an area where the population is only about five to six thousand.

"The infrastructure alone is going to be a problem.

"There’s only two doctors surgeries in the area – and they’re both full.

"Where are these people going to go?” 

David thought the level of discontent in the community was more widespread than the consultation – which attracted more than 100 people over two days – could capture. 

“Lots of people haven’t come because they think it’s a done deal,” he said.

“But if you ask people down the pub – they’re not happy.” 

But according to representatives of the developers, the concerns and questions raised in the public consultations will actively shape the planning process, with residents encouraged to share both good and bad feedback. 

Speaking on behalf of the developers, Mike Coulter of Grasscroft Property, told the LDRS: “We are delighted that so many people are engaging with our consultation on a masterplan for development in Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley.

"Going out to the community now before we submit any planning applications to the Council means we can use local knowledge to get the proposals right.” 

He said he’d received positive feedback on improvements to connectivity across the valley, which would help make the way to school safer for kids walking to Royton and Crompton School from East Oldham.

And a new Metrolink stop at Cop Road was similarly well received, which would connect communities in Heyside, Royton and Sholver to the rest of the Metrolink network. 

“We anticipated that people would have questions about the impact new homes will have on public services and local roads,” Coulter wrote.

“The new neighbourhoods will have a new local centre where new health and education community facilities could be provided if there is sufficient demand.

"The local centre will also host other amenities so that the things that people need day to day will be provided on their doorstep, reducing the need to travel.  

"The development will also make contributions towards education provision as the scheme proceeds.

“We have also been pleased to explain the improvements to green space which will be delivered by the development.

"Despite being currently undeveloped, much of this area is not easily accessible as recreation space and some areas suffer with antisocial behaviour.

"As part of the masterplan two thirds of the land will not just be protected from development but enhanced as both recreation space and wildlife habitats.

"This will deliver real improvements in access to high-quality green space for people already living in the area.

“Many people have recognised that development is necessary, highlighting the difficulty that friends or family members have in securing homes locally.

"The mix of homes proposed as part of the development in Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley will play a big part in enabling the next generation of Oldhamers to get on the housing ladder without having to move out of the Borough.”

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