Bury Council gives thumbs up to major food store development

Author: Ashley Curtis - 12 April 2013

Further investment and job opportunities could be achieved as a result of the regeneration of part of Bury town centre, reports bbc.co.uk.

Bury Council has given the thumbs up to plans for a major food store on the site of the former police station on Irwell Street. The site will be marketed to investors with money from the sale being used to fund a new leisure centre.

Development on the derelict police station will meet a "long-standing ambition" for the council and, overall, the plans have been described as "ambitious and realistic".

The food store marks the latest phase in the regeneration of the town centre, which has received a significant number of revisions. Other changes could be made to drive shoppers to the centre - for instance, the installation of street furniture bins, steel benches or other urban furniture could give these public realms a professional finish.

Council leader Mike Connolly said: "This is fantastic proposal which we hope will bring yet more investment and jobs to Bury, following major developments in recent years such as The Rock. The success of The Rock has greatly enhanced Bury's attractiveness to visitors.

"Studies have shown that we need an improved town centre food offer, which regenerates the derelict site of the police building and creates significant job opportunities for local people," he added via prestwichandwhitefieldguide.co.uk.