Lancaster Club plans approved

OLDHAM Council’s planning committee has approved plans to bring forward a housing-led regeneration of the Lancaster Club site that previously earmarked for a new football stadium.

The plans to redevelop the 12.21-acre site were brought by GVA on behalf of the council itself, which had acquired the land from Oldham Athletic in a £5.5m deal in August last year after its plans to redevelop the site into a new stadium fell through.

It has instead received a grant from the council to provide community facilities within a refurbished Boundary Park.

The outline application approved last night includes more than 140 family home, shops, professional services, restaurants and cafes, drinking establishments, and on-site car parking on a 30-acre site.

Some of the homes being created will be apartments from the conversion of the Grade II-listed Lancaster Club – a former lodge which eventually became a social club for workers at the recently-closed BAE Systems site in Chadderton.

A new commercial soccer facility containing eight five- and two seven-a-side pitches will also be brought forwards.

The council will now look for a development partner to bring the plans forwards.

Oldham Council leader Cllr Jim McMahon said: “The Lancaster Club site offers huge potential for high-quality homes which Failsworth and the surrounding area needs – and in a location that is second-to-none in terms of its connectivity to Oldham and Manchester.

“The site is critical to concluding the deal with Oldham Athletic which will allow the club to invest in Boundary Park and put right the ageing stadium while also healing this sore for Failsworth residents.

“What we must do is not rush into any development, but ensure that – whatever the final scheme looks like – it is a flagship development which people will aspire to live in and one that gives a major boost to the surrounding area.”