Hathershaw and Fitton Hill
Housing Market Renewal and the New Deal for Communities programme are working together to make big improvements to Hathershaw and Fitton Hill, to the south of Oldham town centre.
In 2006 a ‘Spatial Masterplan’ was created to outline what could be achieved in these neighbourhoods, which many local residents supported. Oldham Council approved the Masterplan early in 2007. A developer has been selected to start making the proposals for the “Triangle Site” between Ashton Road, Copsterhill Road and Schofield, Street, which forms an important gateway to the town, a reality.
Further phases of the Masterplan are currently underway in the area. Vast improvements to the outsides of residential properties have been made to properties on Broadway Street in the area known as Hathershaw North as well as further improvements to homes on Ashton Road and Neild Street, much to residents’ delight.
Youngsters from Broadfield Primary School, which is within the Hathershaw North area, have created colourful and exciting designs for street art and signage to ensure safe routes to school and these will be in place very soon. Children’s artwork has also been incorporated into a sculpture to be installed at the gateway to the NDC area and new welcoming gates have also been installed to the school entrance to improve its appearance.
Improvements to the area around Edith, Ethel and Denbigh Street, known as Hathershaw Central are due to start by the end of the year. Again these include refurbishments to the outside of resident’s homes on Ashton Road as well as alleyway resurfacing and gates and upgrades to landscaped areas to create inviting green havens for residents’ to enjoy.
Huge improvements have already been made to some of the shops on Ashton Road as part of the plans to revitalise the economy of the area and bring in new business. Further phases are planned and phase two will start in September/October 2008
Dramatic improvements to the choice of homes available at Fitton Hill could also be made through redevelopment near to Hill Farm Close. Some homes have already been demolished and the land released has created an extensive area for the development of new modern housing.
The plans to create a new neighbourhood centre at the heart of Fitton Hill are underway and consultations are ongoing with Oldham Primary Care Trust to make this happen. The new centre will include the creation of a new shopping area, new medical facilities a new library and community facility.