Like most former industrial towns, Oldham is seeking to reinvent itself as a modern, forward-looking area

The negative effects of the Oldham’s industrial decline have prompted the latest surge of initiatives' to jump-start the borough and breathe life back into its residential, commercial and industrial sectors. 'Oldham Beyond', a report commissioned by the Oldham Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA), has developed a vision and strategy for the "Renaissance of the Borough of Oldham". The Oldham Beyond consultancy team is made up of URBED, Comedia, S333, King Sturge and WSP.

Oldham underwent intensive scrutiny as the team completed a range of borough-wide research assessments. The team concluded that there were two main characteristics contributing to Oldham's 'slump'. The first was recognised as a "breakdown of understanding and trust between different ethnic groups in the borough and the residential segregation of these different ethnic groups".

Oldham has been noticed in society for all the wrong reasons - namely the riots of May
2001, a result of neighbouring 'differences' - and today the council promotes 'social cohesion' and a 'civic society' with a goal to unite the borough's residents and change the negative perceptions of Oldham.

The second characteristic was a "loss of selfconfidence and pride in the borough and its
future"; the majority of Oldham's talented and motivated population tends to leave the area "in order to get on".

On the back of this research the Oldham Beyond team compiled a vision of what Oldham could be like in 15 years’ time.

Oldham's institutions, such as the police and the council, will be striving to achieve "a confident place, at ease with itself and celebrating in its diverse communities and landscapes - from the tight-knit terraced communities to the wild moors and valley villages to the east.

A borough that is proud of its industrial past but which has reinvented its economy by making the most of the creativity and drive of its young people. The world will see the borough as a place transformed and people will be attracted to live and work in the borough by the quality of life that it offers and by its reputation for tolerance and diversity."

To attain all this in just 15 years would be miraculous to say the least, but while the timescale does seem slightly ambitious, it is fair to say that Oldham is certainly taking a good whack at the goal and is rising to the challenge with many major improvements already underway.

In recent years, Oldham has rejuvenated its "retail and culture core" with over £100m invested in a new central bus station, the award-winning Gallery Oldham and an extension of the Town Square retail development. The town was also awarded Economic Development Zone status, which received funding for redevelopment programmes around the town centre.

Oldham was allocated Government funds for improving housing stock, both council and private; improving employment and creating jobs; business support and start up activity; training; and new commercial and industrial zones, making use of derelict sites and former mill sites.

Council programmes intend to address five main themes: crime, environment, health, housing and unemployment. Within housing matters these programmes include 'Gateways to Oldham'; Housing Market Renewal initiative; Discounted and Affordable Housing, plus many more.

'Gateways to Oldham' is a Private Finance Initiative project to regenerate Oldham's housing stock and the environment of three selected estates - Clarkwell, Crossley and Primrose Bank. These estates have been assessed as being overcrowded with substandard, outdated houses and in a poor environment with instances of crime and antisocial behaviour.

Last year, the PFI was approved funding of £131m to provide the estates with high-quality sustainable housing, improvements to the environment and better recreational facilities. Any council houses being retained will undergo refurbishments to meet Decent Homes Standards (DHS).

Bidding for the PFI contract is currently underway with three private sector contractors battling for the responsibility of delivering this significant project. The consortium of bidders includes Inspiral, Inspirit and Solutions 4 Oldham. Work is expected to commence in summer 2009 with the first new homes anticipated to be finished in 2010.

Oldham Council is also tackling the issue of affordable housing. Several initiatives have been set up to help people who are finding it difficult to buy a home in today's market. Options open to Oldham's residents include discounted housing, shared ownership and renting. The council has also set up a 'Home Plus Plan' for people who will be affected by regeneration schemes with demolition plans in place.

Discounted houses are offered to people who can prove they are unable to purchase a property at its full sales price. The discount is attached to the deeds as a condition and when the house is to be resold it must be at the same discounted percentage. The council is providing discounted homes primarily to those affected by demolition plans; any properties not taken up will be made available to the general public.

The Housing Market Renewal (HMR) initiative aims to deal with the "deep-rooted problems that face the communities in Oldham and Rochdale". Having been awarded £67.5m for 2006-2008, the 15-year project began building new homes with the purpose of bringing about a "lasting change in order to improve people's quality of life, and to drive up the prosperity of the area."

Last month, a further £90m was awarded for 2008-2011 to build more high-quality, eco-friendly homes and improve the neighbourhood environments.

In answer to the desperate need for regeneration proposals are being created to make areas more attractive, develop high-quality energy efficient housing and generally improve Oldham's "quality of life."

The HMR also provides many opportunities for jobs and training across the Oldham and Rochdale areas, which is "great news for the local economy"; and has recently funded an 'employment initiative', helping residents find work as part of the regeneration work. Currently, 67% of Oldham's housing stock is made up of Victorian terraces with a portion of the rest being high-rise council housing. Although it is not feasible to replace this housing, the HMR initiative can redevelop and improve these homes, and hopefully stimulate the terraced housing market in the process.

A lack of desirable middle-class housing in the western areas of Oldham, sees the percentage of the talented and motivated population leaving the borough for more 'suitable' areas; as well as companies looking to relocate to the area, which would greatly boost Oldham's economy, seeing nowhere for their managers to live and so discounting the area completely. The HMR initiative could greatly turn these issues around with its improved, higher quality housing.

Oldham also has several environmental and transportation proposals planned including cycle ways, bus routes and park and ride schemes. Manchester's Metrolink is currently planning an extension out to Oldham and its surrounding areas, a scheme that is expected to raise £13m in public and private sector investment.

All these programmes form an integral part of Oldham Council's Regional Economic Strategy objective to "transform the region, promoting and enhancing the image and competitiveness of Oldham and surrounding areas". Although Oldham is not yet out of the tunnel, there is definitely light at the end of it.