PLANS for a bike hub and cycling trails on the 160-acre Northern Roots at Snipe Clough have been submitted.

The proposed hub, which will be adjacent to Cherry Avenue in Alt, is set to provide a training ground for cyclists to develop and improve their riding, and a starting point for the site’s mountain bike trails.

Facilities will include a pump track and a skills area, a bike hire station with a shop and cafe, a bike repair workshop that will provide spares and services, toilets and a shower and bike wash.

Additional parking facilities will be created next to the existing games court on site with visitors encouraged to access the facility on foot or by bike.

Councillor Jabbar, cabinet lead for finance and low carbon, and chair of Northern Roots board, said: “Cycling is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing and Northern Roots’ vision for the Bike Hub is to inspire more people to get out and about on bikes.

“What better place to do that than Northern Roots, where there are acres of amazing open space to explore.

“This will be a fantastic facility for people of all ages and abilities and a brilliant addition to Oldham.”

The Bike Hub proposal has been developed following in-depth community consultation and has been designed by Bike Track, the design company behind Leeds Urban Bike Park, in conjunction with JDDK Architects.

Steve Taylor, director, Bike Track, said: “We’re delighted to be leading on the design and construction of a first-class facility for Oldham. Having been involved in initial consultation with local riders and mountain-bikers, we’ll be able to create something special for the community.”

If planning permission is given, construction of the bike hub will take place this summer.

Designs for Northern Roots’ visitor centre, learning centre, forestry base and solar array are currently being finalised ahead of the submission of a further planning application for the wider Northern Roots site in the coming weeks.

The final proposals have been shaped by community consultation, with the latest phase running between August and December 2021.

The full Bike Hub planning application can be viewed on the Oldham Council website.