New school for Alt in regeneration plans

ALT primary school . . . due for replacement

A new school is planned for Alt and new housing on Ripponden Road, Moorside, under plans to regenerate two Oldham estates.

The Alt and Sholver Partnership has been working since late 2007 to find out local people’s priorities for changes to the areas.

And in the first phase, part of the Housing Market Renewal project, Sholver people and their councillors are keen to see new homes built first, before demolition of older property happens.

The site of former flats at Pearly Bank, and land fronting Ripponden Road, have been identified for development first, along with Doyle Close and Goldsmith Avenue.

Master planning will take place this year, when decisions on the flats in Swift Road, Wells Road, and Verne Drive are taken.

Land fronting Ripponden Road at the top of Sholver may have to be bought for new housing using the council’s compulsory purchase powers.

On Alt, land north of Cherry Avenue is preferred for a new school.

There have been 14 discussion groups and a community event in each are to shape the ideas, which will eventually form guidance to developers when contracts are being sought in 2009.