Oldham planning applications: dormers, extensions, garden wall

Oldham Council has validated a fresh batch of planning applications that will reshape dozens of homes across the borough, from dormer windows popping up on rooftops to garden walls going up in Grasscroft. The applications cover everything from modest extensions to major amendments for housing developments, with residents in Failsworth, Chadderton, and Royton among those affected.

Among the most notable proposals is a retrospective application at 2 Westfield Drive in Grasscroft, where a homeowner has already installed a stone garden wall and driveway without prior approval. The council is now being asked to sign off on what's already been built, including drainage works. Meanwhile, properties on Barmouth Court and Brompton Street are seeking permission for front and rear dormers that would significantly alter their appearance.

The applications also include a non-material amendment to the Lydia Becker Way development at Broadway Green in Foxdenton, suggesting changes to an already-approved housing scheme. A more substantial proposal involves Manor Farm Barn on Knowls Lane, where plans for a part single, part two-storey rear extension could transform this rural property.

For many residents, these changes represent the ongoing evolution of Oldham's housing stock as homeowners seek to maximise their properties' potential. However, neighbours will be watching closely as dormers and extensions can affect light, privacy, and the character of established streets. The council's validation of these applications is just the first step-formal decisions will follow after public consultation periods.