Greater Manchester

Builders in Oldham

Renovat Construction provides building, renovation, and refurbishment services for homeowners, landlords, and property investors across Oldham and the wider borough, including Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees, and the Saddleworth villages. Our PMP certified, RICS accredited team manages every project from initial survey through to final handover, with one point of contact and full accountability throughout.

Oldham is a metropolitan borough on the north eastern edge of Greater Manchester, rising from the Medlock and Irk valleys up to the western slopes of the Pennines and the boundary of the Peak District National Park. The borough comprises the principal town of Oldham together with the townships of Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees, and the cluster of Saddleworth villages including Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross, Diggle, Greenfield, and Grasscroft. With a population of around 242,000 at the 2021 census, Oldham is one of the more affordable Greater Manchester boroughs, with a renovation market driven by Metrolink tram access into Manchester city centre, substantial Victorian and Edwardian housing from the cotton spinning era, distinctive Pennine gritstone properties across Saddleworth, and entry prices that sit materially below most southern and western Greater Manchester boroughs.

Why Oldham Renovations Work Differently

Three forces shape every renovation decision in Oldham, and importantly, they do not apply equally elsewhere in Greater Manchester.

The affordability and yield position

Oldham entry prices sit among the lowest in Greater Manchester, particularly across central Oldham, Failsworth, Chadderton, Hollinwood, Werneth, and Coldhurst. As a result, this creates two distinct opportunities for buyers in the borough.

What it means for owner occupiers

For owner occupiers, renovation in Oldham delivers a finished family home at a total cost well below buying a finished property in higher priced Greater Manchester postcodes such as Sale, Altrincham, or Didsbury. Furthermore, the borough's solid period and inter war housing stock, together with the sought after Pennine stone properties of Saddleworth, means well chosen properties refurbish to a high specification without losing money against the local resale ceiling.

What it means for investors

By contrast, for investors, the lower entry price tends to deliver stronger gross rental yields than equivalent properties in South Manchester, particularly across the Victorian and Edwardian terraces of central Oldham, Failsworth, Chadderton, Werneth, and Hollinwood, and the inter war semis of Royton, Shaw, and parts of Chadderton.

Metrolink access into Manchester

Oldham is connected to Manchester city centre by the Metrolink tram network rather than heavy rail through the town centre. Specifically, the Oldham and Rochdale line runs through the borough with stops including Failsworth, Hollinwood, Freehold, South Chadderton, Westwood, Oldham Mumps, Oldham Central, Oldham King Street, and Derker, continuing on towards Shaw and Crompton and Rochdale. Additionally, Mills Hill railway station on the Manchester to Leeds line serves the Chadderton and Middleton edge of the borough. As a result, Oldham supports owner occupier demand from professionals commuting into central Manchester by tram, and rental demand from tenants priced out of the city core.

Motorway access

Oldham has direct motorway access via the M60 Manchester orbital motorway, with the A627(M) Oldham spur connecting the town centre directly to the M60 at Chadderton. Additionally, the A62 Oldham Road and A627 provide direct routes towards Manchester, Rochdale, and Huddersfield, and the A670 and A669 climb eastward through Saddleworth towards the Pennines and West Yorkshire. As a result, this combination of Metrolink tram, local rail, and direct M60 access gives the borough strong connectivity to Manchester and the wider region.

Pennine geography and the Saddleworth landscape

Oldham rose to prominence during the Industrial Revolution as one of the most important cotton spinning towns in the world, and the legacy of that era defines much of the borough's housing. Specifically, the western and central parts of the borough are densely built with terraced and inter war housing, while the eastern side rises sharply into the Pennine foothills and the Saddleworth villages, much of which sits within the Green Belt and on the boundary of the Peak District National Park. Additionally, Saddleworth has a distinctive building tradition using local gritstone for walls and stone flags for roofs, which later incorporated slate after the Huddersfield Narrow Canal made cheaper materials available. Consequently, this combination of dense former cotton townships, period housing stock, and protected upland landscape supports a renovation market that varies significantly between the urban grain of central Oldham, Failsworth, and Chadderton and the heritage stone character of Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross, and Diggle.

How Oldham's Property Mix Shapes Renovation Decisions

The Oldham borough housing stock reflects multiple development phases from the cotton spinning era through to modern infill development. As a result, what counts as a sensible renovation strategy varies significantly between neighbourhoods.

Victorian and Edwardian terraces (1860 to 1910)

Found across central Oldham, Werneth, Coldhurst, Hollinwood, Failsworth, Chadderton, and Glodwick. Specifically, these properties have solid brick or stone walls, slate roofs, original timber floors, and many have cellars or partial subfloor voids. Built originally for the cotton spinning and engineering workforce. Common renovation work includes full rewiring, replumbing, damp proofing, replastering, and kitchen and bathroom refits. As a result, these terraces continue to deliver some of the stronger rental yields across Greater Manchester at the right purchase price.

Inter war semis (1918 to 1939)

Found extensively across Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, parts of Failsworth and Lees, and the wider OL1, OL2, OL4, OL8, and OL9 footprints. Specifically, these properties feature bay windows, generous room sizes, front and rear gardens, and many have hipped roofs suitable for hip to gable loft conversion. Therefore, these are the workhorse family homes of the Oldham borough, ideal for rear extensions creating open plan kitchen diners and loft conversions for additional bedrooms.

Post war and mid century housing

Found across parts of Limeside, Sholver, Holts, and the larger post war estates around Oldham, Royton, and Chadderton. Mix of semi detached and short terraces with cavity walls, hipped roofs, and integral or detached garages. Generally, these homes commonly need heating and insulation upgrades to meet current EPC requirements for rental properties.

Pennine stone and Saddleworth housing

Concentrated across Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross, Diggle, Greenfield, Grasscroft, and the wider Saddleworth villages. Specifically, gritstone cottages, converted weavers' houses, period farmhouses, and converted barns, many built in the local stone vernacular with stone flag or slate roofs and stone mullioned windows. Additionally, many of these properties have substantial plots and sit within designated conservation areas, Green Belt, or land adjoining the Peak District National Park, so heritage and landscape considerations apply across much of the area.

Modern apartments and new build housing

Concentrated around the Oldham town centre regeneration areas, the Metrolink corridor, and infill schemes across Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, and Failsworth. Generally in good structural condition, although these properties typically benefit from kitchen and bathroom upgrades to maximise rental yield.

Conservation Areas and Heritage Properties in Oldham

Oldham Council has designated multiple conservation areas across the borough, each with a conservation area appraisal setting out the historic character of the area. Specifically, the Saddleworth area alone contains a large number of defined conservation areas covering villages such as Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross, and Diggle, with further conservation areas across Oldham town centre and other historic township cores. As a result, we assess conservation area status and any applicable planning constraints at the quote stage so you know exactly what is possible before committing to a project.

What conservation area status means for homeowners

Within Oldham's conservation areas, several controls apply automatically. Specifically, demolition of buildings or boundary walls usually requires planning permission. Furthermore, the extent of permitted development for items such as satellite dishes and smaller extensions is reduced. Additionally, all trees within a conservation area with a stem diameter greater than 75mm are protected, requiring six weeks written notice to Oldham Council before any felling, lopping, or pruning. As a result, we assess conservation area status and any applicable planning constraints at the quote stage so you know exactly what is possible before committing to a project.

Heritage and conservation approach

For development within conservation areas, particularly across the Saddleworth villages, professional input from architects and surveyors familiar with historic buildings is recommended, alongside the use of traditional materials. Generally, successful applications use local gritstone or natural stone for walls, stone flags or natural slate for roofing, lime mortar rather than modern cement on period stonework, and timber sash or casement windows rather than uPVC. Additionally, we prepare heritage statements as standard for any conservation area, listed building, or protected area project. Therefore, this supports more successful applications and reduces the risk of conditions or refusal.

The full list of Oldham conservation areas, appraisals, and planning guidance is published by Oldham Council.

HMO Conversions in Oldham

This is the single most important planning point for any investor considering an HMO in Oldham, and it sets the borough apart from much of Greater Manchester.

Oldham operates a borough wide HMO Article 4 Direction

On 22 September 2025, Oldham Council made a non immediate borough wide Article 4 Direction removing permitted development rights for the change of use from a standard family dwelling (Use Class C3) to a small house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4) for up to six residents. Following a public consultation held between 6 October and 16 November 2025, the Direction was confirmed on 15 December 2025 and came into force on 1 January 2026. As a result, from that date all HMOs in the Oldham borough, regardless of size, require planning permission. This applies across the entire borough, including Oldham, Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees, and the Saddleworth villages.

What this means for investors

The borough wide Article 4 Direction does not prevent HMO conversions, but it does mean that every HMO conversion in Oldham now requires a full planning application before the change of use can proceed. Specifically, this includes small HMOs of three to six unrelated occupiers (Use Class C4) which would previously have fallen under permitted development, as well as large HMOs of seven or more occupiers (sui generis) which have always required planning permission. As a result, HMO feasibility in Oldham now depends heavily on the specific property, its location, and local planning policy on HMO concentration. Oldham Council has confirmed that an Article 4 Direction does not mean a small HMO application would be automatically refused, but it does allow the council to consider the effect of a proposed HMO on local amenity and community before granting permission.

Licensing requirements for Oldham HMOs

HMO licensing is a separate requirement from planning permission. Specifically, all HMOs of five or more occupiers require a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004, and this applies regardless of the Article 4 Direction. Smaller HMOs may also require additional licensing depending on Oldham Council policy. As a result, we manage the full HMO conversion process including the planning application now required under the borough wide Article 4 Direction, fire safety compliance to LACORS standards, Building Regulations sign off, and HMO licensing through Oldham Council.

Our approach to Oldham HMO projects

Because every Oldham HMO now needs planning permission, the planning application is the first and most important stage of any HMO project in the borough. Therefore, we assess each property against current Oldham planning policy before any commitment, prepare and submit the planning application, and only proceed to conversion works once the planning position is clear. This protects investors from committing to a property and a conversion budget before the change of use is approved.

Project Types We Deliver in Oldham

Full house renovations. Complete strip out and rebuild including rewiring, replumbing, new heating, plastering, kitchen, bathroom, flooring, and decoration. Particularly suited to the Victorian and Edwardian terraces of central Oldham, Werneth, Coldhurst, Hollinwood, Failsworth, and Chadderton, and the inter war semis of Royton, Shaw and Crompton, and Chadderton.

House extensions. Single storey rear, side, and wraparound extensions. Specifically, the inter war semis across Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, and Lees are ideal candidates for rear extensions creating open plan kitchen diners under permitted development.

Loft conversions. Hip to gable with rear dormer on the inter war semi housing stock across the Oldham borough. Additionally, simple rear dormers on Edwardian properties and careful conversions on the Pennine stone properties of Saddleworth where conservation area rules permit.

Kitchen and bathroom renovations. Single room upgrades through to full property refits. Oldham's family housing market is increasingly demanding move in ready specification, particularly across Royton, Shaw and Crompton, and the more affluent Saddleworth villages such as Uppermill, Dobcross, and Greenfield.

HMO conversions. Full feasibility, planning applications, fire safety, Building Regulations, and licensing for both small (C4) and large (sui generis) HMOs. Importantly, every HMO conversion in the Oldham borough now requires planning permission under the borough wide Article 4 Direction in force since 1 January 2026, so the planning application is the essential first stage of any Oldham HMO project.

Garage and cellar conversions. Inter war semis across Royton, Shaw and Crompton, and Chadderton commonly have integral or detached garages suitable for habitable conversion. Additionally, central Oldham, Werneth, and Failsworth's older Victorian terraces often have cellars suitable for proper tanking and conversion under BS 8102:2022.

New build infill homes. Single plot self builds and small developments on infill sites across the borough.

Painting, decorating, and landscaping. Internal and external decoration, garden design, fencing, driveways, and paving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning, conservation areas, and HMOs

Investment, value, and renovation strategy

Costs, coverage, and choosing a builder

Areas We Cover in Oldham

Central Oldham, Werneth, Coldhurst, Glodwick, Hollinwood, Limeside, Sholver, Holts, Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees, Springhead, Grotton, Uppermill, Delph, Dobcross, Diggle, Greenfield, Grasscroft, and the wider OL1, OL2, OL3, OL4, OL8, and OL9 postcodes.

Additionally, for projects across the wider region see our pages for Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Stockport, Trafford, Altrincham, Sale, Bury, Wigan, Rochdale, and Tameside.