The 'nightmare' huge tower block plan residents have been left furious about

A huge new 16-storey tower block next to an Oldham tram stop would be an ‘eyesore’ and cause a traffic ‘nightmare’, residents and councillors claim.

Plans for 120 apartments had been submitted to be built on land off Winterbottom Street, next to the Westwood Metrolink stop. Oldham’s planning committee considered the proposals but ‘unsually’ could not make a decision itself as the applicant had submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate on grounds of non-determination within the legal time limit.

The committee ruled the proposals should have been rejected, which the planning inspector will be advised of when they consider the application.

The proposals, by Westwood Apartments Ltd, would have seen the tower block built in place of the current Westwood Medical Centre, which is empty and in a ‘poor state of repair’. There had been 18 objections to the plans lodged from residents living around the site.

Join our WhatsAp p Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link.

Planning officer Graham Dickman told the committee: “Anyone who knows the area will know the condition of the building itself at the moment, it’s obviously been vacant for a considerable number of years. The proposal is to replace this with a 16 storey block of 120 apartments.

“It’s a very tall building, not unique within the landscape, but because of the topography of the town centre, when it’s viewed from the west or the south it would be seen against much of the existing built development in the town. There are benefits in bringing forward a currently developed site that’s been in that condition for quite some time.”

He said there were concerns about the layout, traffic management and loss of trees and open space which meant officers