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Home » Over 100 New Flats To Replace Part Of Historic Oldham Cotton Mill

Over 100 New Flats To Replace Part Of Historic Oldham Cotton Mill

A section of the historic Ivy Mill in Oldham is set to be converted into a residential complex boasting over 100 apartments despite local opposition to the plans.

Although not a listed building, the 140 year old mill on Crown Street holds significant local historical value. Situated within the Failsworth Pole Conservation Area, the mill once employed over 75,000 spindlers and played a crucial role in the production of the Lancaster Bomber during the war, earning it a visit from King George in 1939.

Developer Navid Dean has now been granted permission to add four new tiered floors to the top of the existing five-storey structure. These new additions, along with the converted top floors of the mill, will house 102 apartments – comprising six one-bedroom, 85 two-bedroom and 13 three-bedroom units.

Three floors will remain dedicated to business use, currently accommodating the Ivy Mill Business Centre among other enterprises, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The proposal had previously been presented to the planning committee in July, but a final decision was deferred due to ongoing discussions regarding the provision of affordable housing on site. At that time, Mr Dean’s agent proposed a last-minute inclusion of 10 affordable homes in the design plans.

The development has been given the green light, contingent on a £112,000 contribution towards enhancing public open space at Higher Memorial Park. This sum includes over £32,000 earmarked for green space improvements and £80,000 dedicated to boosting facilities for children and young people in the park.

Simon Plowman, the developer’s representative, addressed the committee, asserting: “It’s a project that we believe will significantly enhance the community. Like many areas of GM there’s a shortage of housing in this area.”

However, the proposal has faced opposition, with 14 objections lodged by locals on the planning portal. Among the dissenters, Jill Wate expressed her concerns to the planning panel, highlighting the ‘detrimental impact’ the development could have on local residents.

She pointed out that services such as dentists, GPs, and schools were already under pressure from existing demands.

Wate, who runs a family travel agency adjacent to the mill for four decades, also drew attention to the traffic issues at the ‘nightmare junction’ of Wrigley Head and Crown Street, arguing: “The developer giving £112,000 to the council will make no difference to the dangerous situation created if this is passed… It is a big problem I anticipate on Crown Street.”

Parking provisions have also come under scrutiny from councillors. The developer’s plan to add an extra 50 parking spaces would bring the total to 162, but with some spaces already allocated to businesses and 211 rooms in the apartment block, councillor Peter Hobin voiced his opinion that the parking arrangements were ‘inadequate’.

Despite the concerns, the plans were approved by a majority vote, provided that the developer commits to a construction management plan to minimise disruption for local residents.

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