Placemaking

A Safer, Greener, More Accessible Neighbourhood

The new neighbourhoods at Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley are being designed with nature at its heart. Green spaces, trees, ponds, and wildlife habitats will be part of everyday life-woven into streets, homes, and public areas.

These green spaces will not just look beautiful. They will:

  • Encourage healthy, active lifestyles
  • Support local wildlife
  • Create calm, welcoming places to walk, relax, and meet others
  • Improve air quality and reduce noise
  • Help manage rainwater and reduce flood risk

This will all form part of a Green Infrastructure network that brings together parks, paths, trees, and wetlands to benefit both people and nature.

Key Features of the Masterplan:

Over 50% of the site will remain as green, open space. This land will be transformed from private to publicly accessible green space, with features designed to benefit people, wildlife, and the environment:

  • Connected Green Corridors: green spaces will be linked by existing and new footpaths, forming safe, scenic routes that encourage walking, cycling, and exploration of the wider landscape.
  • Vibrant Public Spaces: The neighbourhoods will include inviting urban squares and landscaped areas, along with shared courtyards and gardens for nurseries, retirement living, apartments, and family homes. All will be enriched with trees, plants, and nature-focused design.
  • Protected Natural Features: Hodge Clough and surrounding Green Belt areas will be preserved and enhanced, providing even more opportunities for the community to enjoy nature through improved access and managment.
  • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): These natural wetlands manage rainwater safely while supporting wildlife and adding beauty to the environment. As well as helping to prevent flooding, they offer unique places where people can explore, relax, and learn about the local nature.

Improving Transport Locally

Movement in this part of town is currently heavily reliant on car use. Poor walking and cycling infrastructure, steep terrain, and limited safe routes mean few people feel comfortable walking or cycling. For those without a car, this can lead to isolation. This imbalance between private and public transport is both a sustainability and social equity issue.

The masterplan is focussed on encouraging use of public transport and active travel—making it easier, safer, and more appealing to walk, cycle, or take the bus.

Improved Metrolink Connections

We’re excited that the masterplan includes proposals for a new Metrolink stop, which will be a key part of helping people travel more easily across Oldham and Greater Manchester.

The new stop will be located near Cop Road, right in the centre of the new neighbourhood. It will sit between the existing Shaw & Crompton and Derker Metrolink stations, making it easier for people in nearby areas like Sholver, Moorside, Heyside, and Royton Moss to access the tram network. The new stop will include:

  • A new tram platform on the Oldham & Rochdale Metrolink line.
  • A park and ride facility so people can leave their cars and hop on the tram.
  • New bus stops and space for buses to connect with the tram.
  • Safe walking and cycling paths linking the stop to homes, schools, and green spaces.

Why is the new Metrolink stop important?

  • Better connections: The new tram stop and bus routes will link new and existing neighbourhoods, helping people get to work, school, shops, and services more easily.

  • Greener travel: With better public transport, more people can leave the car at home, helping reduce traffic and pollution.

  • Part of a bigger plan: The new roads within the masterplan will be part of a wider transport network that will connect Oldham Road and Ripponden Road, with new bus routes and walking/cycling paths throughout.

TfGM are currently developing a potential delivery plan for the new Metrolink stop at Cop Road and are targeting an opening year of approximately 2030/2031 subject to successful completion of the design, business case and funding.

Improving Local Connectivity

The masterplan has designed neighbourhoods that are easy for everyone to get around and enjoy. The neighbourhoods will be made up of clear, well-connected areas that are simple to navigate.

Walking, cycling, and using public transport will be encouraged through safe, green, and pleasant routes. Cars will still be part of the plan, but they won’t take over the streets. Instead, streets will be designed to feel safe and welcoming, with buildings and homes looking out onto public spaces to help people feel secure.

This approach helps create a place where everyone can move around easily, feel safe, and enjoy their surroundings.

Encouraging active travel

The new neighbourhoods are designed to make walking and cycling the easiest and most enjoyable ways to get around. This supports a healthier, greener lifestyle and helps reduce car use for short trips.

The network of paths will follow natural routes and existing footpaths, making it easy to travel between the site and nearby areas- especially for journeys under 5km. We’re also investing in new walking and cycling infrastructure, improving daily journeys and making walking or cycling between areas more attractive and accessible.

Streets will be designed to prioritise walking and cycling, with traffic calming, shared surfaces, and tree-lined avenues creating a safe and pleasant environment. Secure cycle parking will be available at homes, apartment buildings, and key public spaces like the local centre and parks, making it easier for residents and visitors to make short journeys without a car every day.

This investment in connectivity supports the creation of a truly liveable neighbourhood, where walking, cycling, and public transport become the natural choice for everyday journeys. With local services and amenities close at hand, the area will be less dependent on cars- enabling a greener, healthier, and more peaceful way of life for new and existing residents alike.