Parish making waves over mill canal homes

THE canal-side setting for the proposed development

Controversial plans to build seven new homes on the site of an old mill will be discussed by Oldham councillors on Wednesday.

The application to demolish Victoria Works, on Wool Road, Dobcross, and build homes have been contested by parish councillors, who want to protect the surrounding green belt land.

Developers were previously given permission to convert the red brick building into apartments, but have applied for an alteration.

The plans outline a terrace with six four-bedroom and one three-bedroom homes.

No letters of objection have been submitted to the council, but parish councillors have recommended refusal.

Councillor Garth Harkness, representative for the Saddleworth North ward, said: “Something does need to be done to that building because it is a mess. It’s a particularly old part of the mill that has no use to anyone.

“Developing it, in some ways, is fine. It just needs to be more sensitively done.”