Saddleworth residents will vote on whether a neighbourhood plan should guide planning decisions in their area, in a referendum on Thursday 10 December 2026.

The ballot asks whether Oldham Council and the Peak District National Park Authority should use the Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan when deciding planning applications locally.

The document sets out local planning policies for Saddleworth. If it is backed, it will form part of the area's statutory Development Plan and help steer decisions on future applications.

To take part, residents need to be on the electoral register for local government elections and have a qualifying address inside the Saddleworth Neighbourhood Area. The registration deadline is Tuesday 24 November 2026.

There are separate cut-off points for other voting arrangements:

Wednesday 25 November, 5pm: applications for a new postal vote, and changes to existing postal voting arrangements.

Wednesday 2 December, 5pm: applications for a new proxy vote, and for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

Thursday 10 December, 5pm: emergency proxy vote applications, where eligible.

The plan and supporting referendum documents can be read online at oldham.gov.uk. Paper copies are available at Lees, Uppermill, Delph and Greenfield libraries, at Oldham Council's reception in Spindles, and at the Peak District National Park Authority's office in Bakewell by prior arrangement.

The result will be published on the council's website after the vote. If more than half of those who vote support the plan, it will be adopted as part of the Development Plan and used to help determine planning applications.

For more information, the council's Strategic Planning and Information Team can be reached on 0161 770 4105 or at [email protected].