Measuring the distances…
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Thinking of living at OL12 9QQ? Who your neighbours would be, how far the schools, station, shops, GP and parks are from the postcode itself, which schools are near and how they do, what there is to do at the weekend, and a day in the life here.
Most daily things are within reach on foot; the supermarket and GP are further.
Answer a few questions in Where could I live? and this will use your own priorities. Until then, try a perspective.
Working out the fit…
here typical · scale 0–50%
0 crimes recorded on Birch Road in the last 12 months. The street →
here typical · scale 0–50%
here England and Wales · scale 0–100%
here England and Wales · scale 0–50%
| School | Stage | Distance | Latest results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery | Primary | 250 m | 76% met the expected standard |
| Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School | Primary | 950 m | 59% met the expected standard |
| Alice Ingham Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy | Primary | 1.2 km | 55% met the expected standard |
| Wardle Academy | Secondary | 600 m | Attainment 8: 44.1 · 7.1% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Falinge Park High School | Secondary | 3.3 km | – |
| Hollingworth Academy | Secondary | 3.5 km | Attainment 8: 51.1 · 14.7% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Kingsway Park High School | Secondary | 3.9 km | Attainment 8: 35.3 · 4.6% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Whitworth Community High School | Secondary | 4.5 km | Attainment 8: 50.3 · 8% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Meadows School | Independent | 800 m | Attainment 8: 2.2 · 0% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Great Howarth School | Independent | 1.1 km | – |
| Rochdale Islamic Academy | Independent | 2.5 km | 5.6% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Sport | Nearest | Distance | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | Carbon Padel Club (Rochdale) | 2.1 km | 5 |
| Golf | Whittaker Golf Club | 2.8 km | 5 |
| Squash | Littleborough Sports Centre | 2.1 km | 3 |
| Swimming | Rochdale Leisure Centre | 2.7 km | 3 |
| Cricket | Milnrow Cricket Club | 3.5 km | 2 |
| Athletics | Kingsway Park Athletics Arena | 3.6 km | 2 |
| Skateboard | Milnrow Skatepark | 4.1 km | 2 |
| Bowls | Buersil Crown Green Bowls Club | 4.3 km | 2 |
| Rowing | Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club | 1.6 km | 1 |
| Sailing | Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club | 1.6 km | 1 |
| Badminton | Rochdale Leisure Centre | 2.7 km | 1 |
| Gymnastics | Rochdale Leisure Centre | 2.7 km | 1 |
| Fitness | Rochdale Leisure Centre | 2.7 km | 1 |
| Table tennis | Rochdale Leisure Centre | 2.7 km | 1 |
| Rugby union | Littleborough RUFC | 3.0 km | 1 |
| Climbing | Climb Rochdale | 3.3 km | 1 |
The 16 sports with most places shown, of 18. Named clubs, pitches and centres mapped in OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and facilities registered with Sport England Active Places (Contains Data © Sport England, CC BY 4.0). Neither list is complete, so a club not shown may still exist.
The nearest station is Smithy Bridge, about a 10-minute walk (850 m), with 191k journeys a year; its busiest route is to Manchester Victoria.
The nearest bus stop is Birch Avenue, 100 m away, with a bus about every 27 minutes on weekdays (routes 456, 458, 867, 850); 33 departures an hour from the 11 stops within a 5-minute walk.
The nearest primary school is St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery, a few minutes' walk (250 m); 76% met the expected standard.
The closest top-rated primary is Kentmere Primary Academy (0.5 km).
The nearest secondary is Wardle Academy, 600 m away; Attainment 8: 44.1 · 7.1% of GCSEs at 8–9.
Grammar schools are within reach: Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (10.1 km).
It's a family area: 25% of residents are under 15.
The nearest supermarket is Lidl, 1.5 km away, with Premier closer still (100 m) for top-ups.
The nearest GP surgery is Littleborough Group Practice (1.4 km), with Cohens Chemist the closest pharmacy (1.0 km).
For a haircut, Hair Creations is 650 m away.
The nearest full A&E is Royal Oldham Hospital, 8.9 km away, rated requires improvement by the CQC.
At its trust, 62% of major A&E patients were seen within 4 hours in September 2026 (the NHS standard is 95%), and 56% of people waiting for planned treatment had waited under 18 weeks (typical wait 16 weeks).
It's quiet in the evenings: only 1 restaurants, cafés and pubs in the neighbourhood itself.
Pandora is the closest café or restaurant (450 m), and Greengate Inn the nearest pub (400 m).
It's a mix of homes: 23% flats and 10% detached houses.
The typical home here was built in 1965-1972.
The nearest park is the bonk park, 1.1 km away; for exercise, Rochdale Leisure Centre (2.7 km).
Air quality is around the national middle (nitrogen dioxide 10.3 µg/m³).
For holidays, Manchester is 33 km away.
Most households own their home, 15% rent privately.
Written from the figures on this page: Census 2021, DfT journey times (2019), NaPTAN/ORR, Ofsted, CQC, FSA, police.uk and planning registers. Figures describe the neighbourhood around the street.
16 places on this map are within about a 10-minute walk.
Walking times are estimates from straight-line distance. Food businesses from the FSA food hygiene register; schools from the DfE register; nurseries from Ofsted's childcare register; care homes from the Care Quality Commission; pools, sports halls, tennis and golf from Sport England Active Places (contains data © Sport England); everything else © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Map © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
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