A new era for Bury: retail, regeneration, and resilience

Bury is a vibrant centre of culture, history, retail, industry, leisure, and opportunity, with ambitious development plans that will shape the borough for decades to come, writes Robert Summerfield of Bury Council.

Strategically located near Manchester city centre, the area benefits from excellent transport links and boasts a strong sense of community across its six diverse towns.

Bury has evolved from its proud industrial heritage into a thriving hub for digital economies and business startups. With a strong retail presence, it attracts major companies like JD Sports, reinforcing its status as an internationally recognised market.

We have big plans for the borough’s future, including thousands of new homes and employment opportunities. One major project, the Northern Gateway, is set to offer 13m sq ft of industrial and warehousing space, generating around 17,000 jobs and adding £1bn GVA to the Greater Manchester economy.

Bury town centre: a vision for the future

Over the next decade, Bury town centre will undergo transformative change, featuring a reimagined market with a regenerated events space.

To maintain its vibrancy, Bury is adapting to shifts in the UK retail landscape, welcoming inward investment and supporting high-quality, mixed-use development.

The Bury Masterplan, developed in partnership with Bruntwood, outlines a long-term vision for town centre regeneration. The 15-acre redevelopment of Mill Gate Shopping Centre will create a dynamic mixed-use destination, incorporating retail, leisure, hospitality, and residential spaces with a focus on sustainability, education, and wellness.

Prestwich: a new village in the making

Located just a few miles from Manchester city centre, Prestwich is set for a major transformation through a £100m+ regeneration project led by Bury Council and Muse.

The redevelopment of the Longfield Centre site will introduce more than 200 homes, alongside new retail, health, and leisure facilities. A new community hub, market hall, and travel hub will further enhance Prestwich’s reputation as one of the best places to live in the North West.

Radcliffe’s civic hub forms part of a plan for revitalising the town centre. Credit: Bury Council

Radcliffe: a town on the rise

Radcliffe is experiencing rapid progress with new services, homes, and facilities. A new enterprise centre will offer flexible workspace, meeting rooms, and business support services, with Radcliffe Library relocating to make way for these developments.

Housing plans include 600 new homes across three town centre sites, with 400 at the East Lancs Papermill. Additionally, 3,500 homes are proposed for Elton Reservoir, in collaboration with Peel Land. These projects aim to revitalise Radcliffe and accommodate future growth.

Ramsbottom: enhancing a visitor destination

Ramsbottom, known for the East Lancashire Steam Railway, is aiming to further enhance its appeal as a visitor destination. The Ramsbottom Town Centre Plan outlines a vision to support ongoing success, with improvements to public spaces and pedestrianisation.

Following public consultation, plans will introduce a larger civic space and create areas for community engagement, supporting the town’s growing population of freelancers and remote workers.

A borough moving forward

With ambitious regeneration projects across its key towns, Bury is positioning itself as a modern, dynamic, and forward-thinking borough. As it embraces change and investment, Bury remains rooted in its rich heritage while shaping an exciting future for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

• Robert Summerfield is director of regeneration and project delivery at Bury Council