Oasis Leesbrook Academy attempted to get permission to turn a nearby building and the surrounding land into extra educational space under permitted development.
The proposal was made to support resourced teaching provision.
Permitted development is when a proposal can go ahead without full permission and many developers submit for permitted development approval to avoid accidental planning breaches
Planners for the academy followed this practice, and planning documents submitted to Oldham Council state the building has been unused for a number of years and is believed to have originally been a caretaker’s house.
Internal modifications are proposed to create two alternative provision teaching spaces on the ground floor, along with supporting ancillary rooms and internal access between the two original houses included in the building.
External work would be limited to landscaping improvements to make the existing outdoor space more usable for school purposes.
Access to and from the building would remain unchanged, though new doors in existing positions are proposed as part of the refurbishment.
The council’s officer report explained that the lawful use of the building is currently as a residential dwelling, and full change of use planning consent is therefore required for the proposed scheme.
The application was refused on the grounds that the proposed change of use is not permitted development and does not qualify as lawful under planning law.
The council’s decision means a full planning application would now be needed if the school wishes to proceed with the development.
No public comments were received during the application process.
Oasis Academy Leesbrook is a secondary school located on Roxbury Avenue.
The conversion of the former caretaker’s house would have provided additional teaching space to support alternative provision for students who require a different learning environment.
In recent years, Oasis Academy Leesbrook has submitted other planning applications related to site improvements.
These include a new full-size 3G pitch with perimeter fencing and floodlighting, which remains under consideration.
The school was also granted prior approval in September 2025 for a solar panel installation on the roof.
The caretaker’s house remains vacant and unused, according to planning documents.
An Oasis Academy spokesperson said: “The trust intends to submit a full planning application shortly to formalise the change of use for the building, which sits within the academy site.
“We are currently exploring a range of potential educational uses for the space and will be able to share more once the planning process progresses.”
