Cladding replacement approved for Oldham town centre flats

The eight-storey Astoria flats on Scholes Street will have their external cladding replaced after Oldham Council approved the safety works this week. The 48-flat tower, built in 2009 with Staffordshire Blue brick slip cladding, needs the changes to meet government safety standards following the Grenfell Tower disaster. Developers The Casey Group plan to install a non-combustible system that matches the existing appearance.

The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which killed 72 people, exposed widespread problems with cladding systems across the UK. Investigations found the tower's exterior cladding helped the fire spread rapidly, leading to stricter regulations for all buildings with similar materials. The Astoria works form part of the national response to ensure tower blocks meet these new safety requirements.

Planning officers reviewed the proposal and found it would not change the building's appearance or affect the surrounding area's character. They acknowledged residents might face some disruption during the works but said there would be no long-term impact on their living conditions. The council formally approved the application on Monday, April 13.

The replacement work will see the entire external wall system removed and replaced with compliant materials. BTP Architects, who prepared the design statement, said the new facade would cause minimal visual harm to the street scene. The Scholes Street location, just off Yorkshire Street in the town centre, means the works will be visible to many local residents and visitors.