Agenda item

To seek approval for the publication of Oldham Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2025.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that was seeking approval for the publication of Oldham Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2025.

The SHLAA was a technical document identifying land that might have potential for housing at some stage in the future. The requirement to undertake a SHLAA was set out in paragraph 72 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The SHLAA formed a key component of the evidence base underpinning housing policies and land allocations and would help to meet the area’s housing needs. 

The SHLAA assessed the development potential of land that could be capable of delivering homes though an assessment of suitability, availability and achievability (economic viability). It then indicated when it may come forward for development. 

The base date of this SHLAA was the 1^st April 2025. It provided an update to the previous SHLAA (1^st April 2024) published in December 2024. The SHLAA 2025 identified a total housing land supply of 12,848 homes (including allowances) over the short to long term.

More detail on the method used to carry out the assessment, along with the findings of the SHLAA were to be found in the submitted report and its associated appendices.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 (preferred Option) – to approve and publish the SHLAA 2025 to provide evidence for the housing land supply position, Brownfield Register and Local Plan Review.

Option 2 – to not approve and publish the SHLAA 2025.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet approves the submitted Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2025, for publication.