Decision details

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive which was seeking approval of the draft Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (Appendix 1 to the submitted report) and supporting documents (Appendices 2 and 3) for a public consultation commencing no earlier than 25^th February 2026. This would enable stakeholders to have the opportunity to provide comments on the draft Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code SPD before it was finalised and formally adopted.

The Cabinet were informed that the Places for Everyone (PfE) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD), was a strategic plan that covered nine of the ten Greater Manchester districts - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

The Plan took effect and became part of the statutory development plan for each of the nine PfE authorities on 21^st March 2024. PfE sets out the strategic framework for the Oldham Local Plan and allocated sites for employment and housing to meet our growth needs – in Oldham this included JPA10 Beal Valley and JPA12 Broadbent Moss. Policies JPA10 and JPA12 identify a range of criteria that development on Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss will need to address. In both cases this included a requirement for development to be ‘in accordance with a comprehensive masterplan and design code as agreed by the local planning authority. This would include the need for an infrastructure phasing and delivery strategy’.

To address the criterion detailed above, in collaboration with the Council the leading Developer Consortium has prepared a masterplan and design code covering both the Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss allocations. Following agreement of the Motion ‘Ensuring Statutory and Enforceability for Places for Everyone Masterplans’ on 10^th December 2025, a report was taken to Cabinet on 15^th December 2026 at which Cabinet’s approved recommendations were to:

1.    ‘Endorse the Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code and, in accordance with the Motion agreed at the Council meeting on 10th December, authorise officers to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document incorporating this Masterplan and Spatial Design Code.

2.    To note the timetable for the preparation of the SPD included in this addendum report.

3.    To note that the report was to be considered by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board at the appropriate time in the new year, and should therefore be exempt from call-in, under Rule 14 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, in the Constitution and that the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, be given delegated authority to respond to any feedback from Scrutiny as the Masterplan is taken forward to become a Supplementary Planning Document.

In line with the approved recommendation the Masterplan and Spatial Design Code, was now being prepared as a SPD that would be subject to public consultation from 25^th February to 11.59pm on 27^th March 2026.

Following the consultation and consideration of any comments received and any further work that may be needed, the final SPD will be brought back to Cabinet seeking formal approval to adopt and publish the SPD. Once approved and adopted the SPD will go on to inform future planning applications relating to JPA10 and JPA12 and will be a material consideration in their determination.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 (preferred Option) – to approve the draft Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code SPD and supporting documents, for a public consultation commencing no earlier than 25^th February 2026. Option 2 - to not approve the draft Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code SPD and supporting documents, for a public consultation.

Resolved:

1.    That the Cabinet approves the draft Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss Masterplan and Spatial Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (Appendix 1, to the submitted report) and supporting documents (Appendices 2 and 3), as the basis for a public consultation, commencing no earlier than 25^th February 2026.

2.    That the Cabinet notes that the proposed Masterplan and Spatial Design Code was previously considered by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board on 22^nd January 2026, and endorsed to be taken forward for public consultation as an SPD, and therefore was exempt from call-in, under Rule 14 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in the Council’s Constitution.