Thornfield defies market as The Rock rolls ahead in Bury

Thornfield Properties will officially launch its £330m retail scheme in Bury town centre at the end of May, with funding, further pre-lets and build programme all set to be announced.

Despite the gloomy economic outlook, Thornfield has won the backing of its joint venture shareholder Bank of Scotland to start the re-development of The Rock shopping centre.

The scheme received planning permission last November and will comprise 1.6m sq ft of retail, leisure and residential. Anchor stores are a 77,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer and a 103,000 sq ft Debenhams.

There will also be 60 shops, including a 20,000 sq ft Next. Among the leisure uses will be a 10-screen Vue Cinema, a 25-lane bowling alley and eight restaurants, totalling 125,000 sq ft of leisure.

A new link road, Derby Way, opened in February, connecting Rochdale Road to Moorgate. The road has been on site for 12 months but the main demolition and rebuilding programme is due to start in June accompanied by a regional and national leasing campaign.

CB Richard Ellis, Gooch Cunliffe Whale and Nick Green & Co are letting agents.