Northern Steels housing plan gets go-ahead

Oldham Planning Committee
PLANS for a development of 80 houses in Shaw were approved despite concerns that parking and increased traffic will be a problem for residents of Mosshey Street and the surrounding area.

Bosses at P and D Northern Steels Ltd say they need to sell their Mosshey Street base to relocate.

Speaking on their behalf, Sebastian Tibenham said the business needed to expand and have a bigger warehouse, which was just not possible on its current site.

The company has pledged to stay within Oldham, safeguarding the 15 jobs it offers, and Mr Tibenham warned that if the plans for a housing development were refused, it would leave the company in a “highly vulnerable” position.

Residents objecting to the scheme said they weren’t opposed to the site being used for houses, just to the size of the scheme for 80 properties, and said if it went ahead it would have “a catastrophic effect” on the prices of near-by houses.

Councillors were split, with some agreeing it was too big for the area, but others saying it was suitable.

The committee approved the scheme by one vote.