“Bury is building again” Council boss issues commitment to shaping a better future

It looks like Bury is set to go ‘under the knife’ as Council chiefs vow to re-build and revitalise the town centre.

In a stirring declaration last week, Council Leader Eamonn O’Brien unveiled a new dawn for Bury, signalling an era of resurgence and revitalisation for the borough that has long awaited a transformational touch.

The regeneration of Bury

“Bury is building again,” proclaimed Cllr O’Brien at a regeneration exposition held in Ramsbottom, a statement brimming with optimism and determination.

Reflecting on the past decade, O’Brien acknowledged a lack of momentum following the completion of The Rock retail development in 2010 – which has proved to be a big success, increasing footfall massively to the town centre.

However, he emphasised a shift in attitude towards development, a readiness to embrace risk, and a renewed commitment to shaping a better future for Bury.

A better future for Bury

Joined by private sector partners and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at the regeneration expo, the council laid out an ambitious blueprint aimed at breathing new life into the borough’s towns.

Among the headline projects are a £40 million civic hub in Radcliffe, a transformative overhaul of the Longford Centre in Prestwich, a revamped Mill Gate Shopping Centre, and a modernised transport interchange in Bury.

Notably, plans for Atom Valley, a colossal 17 million sq ft advanced materials “mega cluster,” promise to position Bury as a hub of innovation and economic growth.

The regional capital of Northern Greater Manchester

Chris Roberts, development director at Bruntwood, hailed Bury as the “regional capital” of North Greater Manchester, citing its strong fundamentals and strategic positioning relative to Manchester’s burgeoning success.

Mayor Burnham echoed this sentiment, drawing parallels with the regeneration unfolding in Stockport and expressing confidence in Bury’s potential to surpass such achievements.

Highlighting upcoming improvements to public transport, including enhancements to the Bee Network and a new integrated technical education system, Burnham underscored the multifaceted approach to driving progress and prosperity.

The regeneration plans extend across Bury’s six town centres, with initiatives ranging from infrastructure enhancements to the creation of vibrant community spaces.

Ramsbottom, Bury, Radcliffe, Whitefield, Prestwich, and beyond are set to undergo a metamorphosis aimed at developing sustainable growth, connectivity, and opportunity.

Cllr O’Brien affirmed the council’s commitment to delivering tangible results, emphasising the importance of creating good jobs and improving the quality of life for residents.

With a comprehensive transport strategy and a focus on inclusive development, Bury sets its sights on a future marked by prosperity and promise.

The Bury Town Centre Masterplan

You can read the full Bury Town Centre Masterplan by clicking here

The masterplan seeks to address the issues and challenges that Bury Town Centre currently faces and sets out a long-term vision for the growth and development of the town centre over the next 15 to 20 years. This includes:

• a transformational revamp of the heart of the centre
• setting out proposals to transform the Mill Gate Shopping Centre with new shops, leisure, residential and business opportunities.

Alongside this, the masterplan identifies other development opportunities across the town centre that will complement the Mill Gate proposals and help to sustain Bury as one of the top town centres within Greater Manchester and beyond. These opportunities include proposals for:

• an improved market
• a new re-arranged transport interchange
• a new Flexi Hall, which will comprise a large, state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral, multifunctional events space that can support market stalls, ‘pop-up’ trading, live performance, and community events.

So what do you think? New dawn or false dawn? Let us know! [email protected]