Wind power blown out as Oasis scheme forges ahead

Oldham Council planning committee

PLANS to create two 50ft wind turbines at one of Oldham’s new academies to help with energy costs could be scrapped after objections.

The Oasis Academy on the former Brook Mill site, off Hollins Road, already has outline planning permission but was last night granted approval for access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping.

But a proposal to put the giant turbines on the edge of a planned all-weather synthetic pitch was not on the application.

A report stated that residents had objected about noise and disturbance and, as it will take time to fulfil a noise assessment, they have been removed from the plans. But they could be put forward as a separate planning application in the future. They were designed to enable the academy — to replace Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools when it opens in July, 2012 — to get a quarter of its energy from renewable technologies.

But the scheme will still become Oldham’s most sustainable new building as it will make use of a ground-source heat pump, solar thermal hot water and an air-source heat pump.

The academy will be two and three storeys to a maximum height of 13.5 metres, made of red brick, cladding and glazing and have a vehicle access off Hollins Road with 150 parking spaces. Outdoor facilities will be based around a community sports pavilion and include hard and soft landscaped social areas, a multi-use games area, all-weather pitch, five tennis courts, grassed pitches, cricket nets, athletics area and areas for mountain biking and climbing.

Sport England said: “The proposal will result in a significant level of new investment in both indoor and outdoor sports facilities at this site, which will be made available for wider community use.”

There were seven letters of objection raising concerns over parking, congestion on Hollins Road, highway safety after a number of car accidents involving children, anti-social behaviour and a loss of green land.

Objector Ian Catherall said no thought had been given to residents and there could be 750 vehicles at peak times dropping children off, nowhere for parents to park and no benefits for local youths who will be left on street corners.

He added: “It’s a complete loss of our village green.”

Rob Hopkins, for the applicant, said he was confident it would cope with traffic volume.

He said it would create world-class sports facilities and would have an excellent energy rating. He added: “It will provide a great building — not a school with its doors locked but an academy with its doors open. Oasis invites people to use the facilities.”

Councillor Steven Bashforth said: “Everything about the building is fabulous.”