‘Beguiling’ beauty spot could soon be home to an ‘exclusive’ village
An old cotton mill in Greenfield, Waterside Mill, may be converted into a luxury retirement village with 59 flats and townhouses for the over-55s, pending approval from Oldham Council. The plan includes converting the mill into apartments, adding communal amenities, and demolishing dilapidated structures to make way for townhouses. The development aims to provide a sustainable future for the historic site while offering residents scenic views and good transport links.
Waterside Mill in Greenfield could become a luxury retirement village with 59 homes for residents over 55, under plans submitted to Oldham Council.
The 200-year-old, three-storey mill building would be converted into one- and two-bedroom apartments, while the existing office block would house a residents’ lounge, gym and business centre, according to the application by long-time owners Tanner Bros Ltd. Communal terraces on upper floors would overlook the West Pennines and the Peak District.
Several dilapidated weaving sheds and storage buildings would be demolished to make way for townhouses, mirroring the Birtle Brook model on the Rochdale-Bury border that offers pensioners independence with optional support services.
The mill, currently used for warehousing by clothing and construction firms, has become “commercially viable” due to its derelict condition and heating difficulties, the owners stated. To offset lost commercial space, developers have filed a preliminary application for a 10,000 square foot employment unit at the site’s northern end.
The Greenfield station location provides direct rail links to Manchester while preserving what architects CJ Architects call “a sustainable future for this unique historic complex.” No objections have been lodged against the planning application.
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