PLANS to regenerate Park 66 in Pilsworth have been approved. 

The £20 million development will see the creation of a gym, four ‘employment units’, two food and drink units and four retail units, including KFC and Costa Coffee.

There will also be room for 509 parking spaces.

It is hoped that the development will create up to 300 jobs, with an additional 250 during the construction.

The plans were unanimously approved at a meeting of Bury Council’s planning committee on Tuesday night.

A planning report produced prior to the meeting stipulates that the approval is subject to an improvement of the junction of Pilsworth Road and junction 3 of the M66, which the developers Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have agreed to fund.

Cllr Yvonne Wright, who sits on the planning committee, welcomed the scheme.

She said: “It is my pleasure to support this scheme and I’m delighted to hear that work will start immediately.”

Nigel Jones, Development Director at Sladen Estates said: “We are delighted that the council’s planning committee unanimously approved our application. The decision reflects the view of local residents and paves the way for £20 million of new investment into the borough.

“Our commitment to deliver the entire scheme in one phase, including over 6,000 sq ft of new employment floor space, demonstrates our confidence in Bury as a suitable location for long-term investment. 

“We now look forward to continuing work on-site and aim to complete the new development in late 2018.”

Park 66 sprang into life in 1989 when the Warner Brothers Cinema — later renamed Vue — was opened. In its heyday, the complex featured a Megabowl ten-pin bowling centre and restaurants including Pizza Hut, Chiquito and Frankie and Benny’s.

However, the site suffered trading problems in 2010 after The Rock entertainment complex opened in Bury town centre and the old cinema closed.

Other outlets on the land followed and bulldozers moved onto the land last year to demolish the remaining buildings.