Progress made on Bury’s £140m regen pipeline
Plans for the Northern Gateway’s 13m sq ft of employment space have been lodged, VINCI has begun to lay foundations for Bury Market’s £33m reset, and an overhaul of Prestwich town centre is taking shape.
The progress has been laid out in the 2025/26 corporate plan quarter one update.
The site forms the majority of the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone. Credit: via Font Comms
The Northern Gateway
The mixed-use project could create more than 21,000 jobs and nearly 13m sq ft of employment space, and 3,000 homes in both Bury and nearby Rochdale. The Northern Gateway will attempt to draw high-tech and fast-growth industries to accelerate economic growth in the area.
Led by a joint venture between Russell LDP and Harworth Group alongside Bury and Rochdale councils, plans for the Northern Gateway have now been submitted and are subject to a transport review before approval.
Forming a central part of the Atom Valley Mayoral Zone, the Northern Gateway spans 1,600 acres around the M60, M62, and M66.
In February, Bury Council confirmed that Balfour Beatty would be the main contractor for the Northern Gateway’s Western Access scheme, which is set to open up the Atom Valley Mayoral Zone site.
The scheme is under the jurisdiction of both Bury and Rochdale councils. To view the application, use the planning reference number 22/01569/OUT on Rochdale Council’s planning portal.
The flexi-hall is set to have a wide range of uses. Credit: via Bury Council
Bury Market
The historic market is currently undergoing a £33m overhaul and is making progress.
VINCI Construction has been appointed to build a 23,400 sq ft flexi-hall off Angouleme Way, which would be used for events, support, and education.
The plot on which the hall is to be built has now been cleared, and foundations are being laid by the contractor.
Bury Council was awarded a £20m grant in January from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to bring forward the flexi-hall.
An oversailing canopy to cover and future-proof the existing outdoor market has now reached full structural steel completion.
The Bury Market reset has been designed by Just H Architects, and Gillespies is advising Bury Council on its landscape proposals.
Improved external spaces via the addition of planting and seating will also help revitalise the town centre.
Muse and Bury want to redevelop the Longfield Centre site to include housing, offices, retail, leisure, and a travel hub. Credit: Virtual Planit
Prestwich town centre
As part of Bury Council and Muse’s £100m overhaul of the Longfield Shopping Centre – first phase works will see a 300-space car park built.
In addition to the car park, plans are also lodged for 210 homes across three blocks rising seven storeys, a 30,000 sq ft community hub, and 20,000 sq ft of flexible retail space.
Work on the £14m ‘travel hub’ of Fairfax Road in Prestwich has begun, with ground clearing and piling works, and first and second concrete pours now complete.
The project team includes Asteer Planning, Jon Matthews Architects, Planit, and Civic Engineers.
Prestwich’s ‘travel hub’ remains on target for a July 2026 completion.
The bridge is part of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. Credit: via Bury Council
Milltown Street Bridge
Work has begun to link Rectory Lane with Milltown Street with a £3.2m footbridge after the bridge was destroyed in the 2015 Boxing Day floods by Storm Eva.
Transport for Greater Manchester has signed off on a £2.5m grant to aid the repair.
As a result of the fix, pedestrian and wheeling access to Radcliffe town centre would be opened up.
