Decision on home put off over parking fears

THE site of the former Oakbank Training Centre

PLANS to build a new 64-bed residential home were deferred amid concerns about parking congestion in the surrounding area.

The committee deferred plans to build the three-storey home on land formerly used for the Oakbank Centre on Chadderton Park Road, Chadderton and asked the developers to re-assess how many parking spaces they can provide.

Plans would see 24 parking spaces provided for the site which would have a three-storey high main building and two-storey wings protruding on either side of a squared garden.

Accessed via Chadderton Road, the home will have garden areas to the front and south, a car park providing 24 spaces, four motorbike spaces and 10 cycle parking spaces.

The applicant, Rochcare Ltd, said the development would make use of the land and deliver a valuable care facility for elderly residents which would improve health and wellbeing.

However, letters to the council raised concerns that the building, which has dwellings on all sides, would become an imposing feature and overshadow nearby resident dwellings whilst stating that some of the windows would look into neighbouring houses.

Furthermore, the letters also suggested the additional traffic to the home would cause congestion in the area.

Keith Harland, an objector who spoke at the committee meeting, said: "I think I can sum up the objections in three words: size, structure and access.

"At three-storeys the bulk of this building will be overbearing. This will impact on my privacy and view and will be a blight on the community.

"There is not a single positive factor in this proposal. This site should be used for housing where people will have garages and drives to put their cars."

He said: "It will cause noise and night pollution with vehicles coming at all times of night."

Mahmood Eshmael, speaking on behalf of Rochcare Ltd, said: "The applicant values the opportunity to provide critical care locally. They have 30 years of experience and want to bring their experience to Oldham."

He said: "We understand the neighbours concerns. We feel we have done the best that we can in getting the balance of taking a building of that size and fitting it in that area.

"At the end of the day this is a client who is going to build it, operate it and run it so it is in their best interests to manage it."

He added: "They want to be good neighbours and want to provide for the most vulnerable in the community."

Councillor Rod Blyth said: "The parking is an issue. We need to get the parking right. I am not against the development but at 24 spaces it is a small number for parking."

The building, would be made of red brick with the roof made of slate tile.