Massive Northern Roots plan to create huge 'eco park' and urban farm in Oldham is approved

Proposals to create the UK’s biggest urban farm and eco-park in Oldham will be referred to government after local bosses gave them the green light.

Councillors have unanimously approved the first major phase of the Northern Roots project, which focuses on the top half of the 160-acre site in Snipe Clough. It will include a visitor centre, with spaces for events and meetings and a café and shop, a natural amphitheatre and performance space as well as a learning centre, forestry depot and solar panels.

The application will now have to be referred to the Secretary of State, where they will have 21 days to decide whether to call it in for further examination. The whole site runs from the Grade Two listed Alexandra Park, past Park Bridge and down to Daisy Nook country park.

The plans include outline proposals for a natural swimming pond and a community growing allotment. Produce from the proposed market garden would be sold in the shop and the cafe in the visitor centre.

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A massive 880 solar panels will be used to provide electricity for the buildings across the Northern Roots site. Planning officer Graham Dickman said there were several ‘main issues’ with the development, firstly that the site was located in the green belt.

Secondly, he told councillors, there had been an objection from Sport England. The sporting body said it did not consider that there was adequate replacement for existing playing fields within the site.

Two existing football pitches on the site were due to be retained and upgraded, while two are planned to be relocated onto a new plot in the north east.

Mr Dickman added: “To bring the scheme forward it is not