Bury moves to unlock land for £20m market refresh
The council is in talks to acquire the lease for a property that is earmarked for demolition to facilitate the delivery of a flexible events space.
A retail unit at 6-10 Princess Parade sits within the footprint of the proposed flexi-hall, a modern community space that is to be delivered using Bury Council’s £20m Levelling Up Fund award.
Bury’s cabinet is expected to approve an offer of compensation to the existing leaseholder, Sue Ryder, so that the scheme can be progressed within the timelines set out by the government concerning the Levelling Up Fund.
Under the terms of the award, Bury has until the end of March 2025 to spend the £20m.
The council already owns the freehold of the building, which is acquired from the Diocese of Manchester in 2021.
However, vacant possession of the property is “essential to secure wider regeneration benefits and deliver the project on the basis to which the funding was secured,” a cabinet report states.
Nolan Redshaw is advising the council on the process.
The plans for Bury Market, designed by Just H Architects, include:
- A new oversailing canopy to cover and future-proof the existing outdoor market and make it more attractive and visible
- A new flexi-hall that can be used for events and to support wellbeing, enterprise, education and cultural activities
- Enhanced public spaces around the market such as more seating areas, greenery and better signage.
Vinci Construction has been appointed to build the flexi-hall and Gillespies is advising the council on its landscape proposals.
Bury has already taken control of three other nearby properties that need to be demolished to make way for the flexi-hall. These are 51 and 47 Market Street, and 4 Princess Parade.
The council also acquired the 15-acre Mill Gate Shopping Centre in 2022 and is planning to redevelop it in partnership with Bruntwood as part of the town centre regeneration strategy.
Can someone from bury council let me know why when the markets have been given 20 million pound to level up the market wasting money to build a flexi hall, how will market traders benefit from this? The money was meant for the market yet the council are wasting the money on things that will not benefit the market or traders if the council want to build a flexi hole surely do it with money from their own pockets not money for the market, this is just another case of the council wasting money, did the council / market not think to speak to traders or do they just not care ? I have a stall on berry market and can’t even have electric put in my stall in the year 2023, seems to me the council will spend this money without even speaking to market traders
By Allan noone
no wonder this council are always moaning they have no money…if they were a business theywould be bankrupt
By Anonymous
Council’s relentlessy waste money on dreams, thought up by public sector workers who have no vision, no thought and no financial intergrity themselves, Bury council is no different, meanwhile the traders will again lose out !!
By Anonymous
Honestly, this council are so inept. The wastage they spend is incredible, they have recently made a complete pigs ear of the roads around the market. The amount of people screaming for them not to touch the market speaks volumes, yet they will hold a phoney public consultation and ram it through anyway ruining the whole fabric of what people actually come to the market for.
By PS
What about putting public toilets in the new shopping centre as there is not any within close proximity especially for those with disabilities
By Anonymous
Same old moaning from “stall holders” and “traders” …old people who want the market to be the same as it was 40 years ago. Selfish views with no eye on the future
By Prestwich Dev
Another Master plan and artist impression from Bury Clowncil that means nothing as usual.
By Jcas
Absolutely ridiculous!! Spending our cash on something that’s not wanted or needed !! Bury council need a bloody good shake up , putting out CT up by almost 150 quid a year for this !
By Patty
Looks like prototype of the Chancellery in pre war Berlin.
By Shirley Ridyard
The market is fine and as it stands and is one of the best markets in England .Why repair something that is not broken. Have the council asked the stallholder s for their opinions.
By Allan s
I still can’t get my head round the fact that Bury Council are running a commercial operation. By all means help developers but I can’t see what business it is of a local council to br involved on this scale.
By Paul Rohan