The next phase of the £70m SportsTown project in Oldham has been approved, with plans for three outdoor netball courts at Boundary Park given the green light by the council.

The courts will be built on a plot of ‘underused and unattractive’ land next to the car park at the home of Oldham Athletic FC. The scheme, which is part of a broader ambition to create a four-sport facility for football, rugby, netball, and cricket, aims to attract 25,000 visitors a week to the borough.

Richard Gee, speaking on behalf of SportsTown Ltd, said the application addresses a clear shortage of dedicated netball provision in Oldham, particularly for women and girls. “Oldham netball club have described it as a ‘major opportunity to put netball at the heart of Oldham’,” he said, adding that the project is not just about sport but also includes opportunities for traineeships, netball-related qualifications, and health programmes.

The plans do not include lighting but will require acoustic and security fencing. A new changing area, shared with the recently completed Little Wembley junior training ground, is also part of the approval, along with a five-metre wide path between Hilbre Avenue and Clayton Playing Fields.

The application was not approved unanimously. Councillors Maggie Hurley and another raised concerns over the increase in traffic the courts could bring, with neighbours on Hilbre Avenue worried about congestion. “These kids are not going to be dropped by helicopter,” said Coun Hurley. “These are young people who are going to be dropped off by their parents.” Highways officers assured the committee that the expected increase is between 15 and 20 return journeys at peak times, which they described as ‘relatively low’ for the car park.

As part of the netball scheme, retrospective planning permission was granted for Frank Rothwell’s ‘Oldham Wheel’—a ten-metre sculpture of a cog containing a giant embryo. The artwork, which nods to Oldham’s industrial history and role in IVF development, was erected without prior approval and stands opposite the car park entrance.

The SportsTown project is progressing on other fronts too. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is establishing an Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation, which, once approved by the government, will take over project management with additional powers to buy or sell land, sign contracts, and raise funds. This is aimed at speeding up delivery of SportsTown and supporting wider plans to regenerate Oldham town centre.

Oldham Athletic CEO Darren Royle has described the overall vision as putting Oldham on the map for sports, with the ambition of making Boundary Park a hub that draws visitors and investment into the borough. The netball courts represent the latest step in that journey, addressing local needs while building on the momentum of the broader regeneration effort.