GOOD NIGHT OUT: This computer generated artist's impression shows how the leisure area of the development, featuring the cinema, bowling alley, bingo and restaurants, will look
THE final go-ahead has been given for the £330 million transformation of Bury's town centre.
The decision by Bury's planning committee on Tuesday came as Thornfield announced that Marks and Spencer had signed a deal to move its existing store in the Mill Gate shopping precinct to a purpose-built and much larger premises in the heart of the new Rock Triangle development. The deal will ensure the leading retailer will continue its 70-year association with Bury.
But Mill Gate bosses say they fear the move outside the traditional shopping quadrant would cause "irreparable damage" to the town and ultimately see Radcliffe and Prestwich's established retail facilities crash.
That view, however, is not shared by M & S. John Handy, property surveyor at Marks and Spencer, said: "We are delighted to have exchanged an Agreement to Lease for a major new Marks and Spencer store at The Rock, which we know will be a great shopping destination for Bury."
Marks and Spencer's will be joined by a flagship Debenhams department store - the first in Bury and significantly larger than the closest store in Bolton - and a further 60 shops.
Under the enlarged development plans, Thornfield say The Rock will form an extension to the town centre and transform the 17 acre site into an impressive shopping and leisure experience, reviving the town and surrounding areas.
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The company hopes that its investment in the town will act as a catalyst for major inward investment from other retailers and commercial occupiers, delivering further benefits to Bury in the future.
Vue Cinema will anchor the leisure aspect of the development, relocating from its current out-of-town location at Pilsworth to a new ten-screen multiplex cinema.
AMBITIOUS PLANS: An artist's impression of part of the development, looking up the Rock from the Hornby buildings area. The coloured strip in the paving area is planned to run through the development as a visual aid'. (Below left) A view of the development from the Debenhams building, looking the opposite way down the Rock and (below right) showing walkways connecting Marks and Spencer and Debenhams
There will be a 25 lane AMF ten-pin bowling alley, a Gala Bingo hall and eight cafes and restaurants. A 1,250 space multi-storey car park is being also built.
The development will also include a walk-in centre for Bury Primary Care Trust that will accommodate 24-hour medical care, an A&E department, three GP practices and dentistry facilities.
And a total of 397 studio, one and two bedroom residential apartments will be integrated into the development and go on general release next year. The luxury apartments, some with terraces overlooking the central plaza, will provide contemporary cosmopolitan living with a range of shops, cafe-bars and other amenities.
Ten members of the planning committed voted in favour of the scheme and Councillor Wilf Davison described the development as "exciting".
However, colleague Councillor Donal O'Hanlon voted against the revised plans, stating that although he was impressed with the entire project, he was concerned that traders outside the town centre could suffer financially.
Jason Marcus, chairman of Thornfield, said: "Thornfield is fully committed to this major project and we are very pleased to have secured permission for our revised plans and to be able to announce we have signed up another quality retail anchor such as Marks and Spencer. Their decision underlines the potential of Bury.
"It is also recognition of the impact that The Rock will have in transforming the retail and leisure offer in the town.
"Both Marks and Spencer and Vue are a major draw and we are confident that their presence will attract a number of higher quality brands to The Rock."
Thornfield have already committed in excess of £70 million towards enabling works, clearing the site, relocating a church and are now nearing completion on a new £10 million ring road for the town to accommodate the additional traffic flow to and from the scheme.
The development will be delivered in phases; the ring road will open late 2007 followed by the medical centre which is scheduled to open in 2008.
The main retail and shopping elements are planned to open in 2010.
Posted by: psychicgary, bury/whitefeild on 1:26am Sat 12 Apr 08
recognition of the impact that The Rock will have in transforming the retail and leisure offer in the town.
lol what was wrong with hornby buildings under investment?
what was wrong with wash lane under investment?
what was wrong with saint pauls church underinvestment again?
what was wrong with piramid park yes you guessed it UNDERINVESTMENT!!!
and what do they all have in common?
vast sums of cash going straight to the council from yes private companys massive companys that dominate every town in the uk and make em all look boring and soul-less why?
remember the corn exchange it was an amazing place you could get a stall there quite cheap and the diversity was to marvel at!!!
look at it now poor folk from bury cant even afford a look in.
yes they sold lowery whats next?
i think all politicians have sold out because soon bury will be so expensive to live gone! are the good old days of free choice and free enterprize of the proud individual giving way to the richness of Thornfield because i tell you this no new buisness could ever afford to rent a place nor could for that matter soon will anyone because its all gone down the pan.
thank you councillors
recognition of the impact that The Rock will have in transforming the retail and leisure offer in the town.
lol what was wrong with hornby buildings under investment?
what was wrong with wash lane under investment?
what was wrong with saint pauls church underinvestment again?
what was wrong with piramid park yes you guessed it UNDERINVESTMENT!!!
and what do they all have in common?
vast sums of cash going straight to the council from yes private companys massive companys that dominate every town in the uk and make em all look boring and soul-less why?
remember the corn exchange it was an amazing place you could get a stall there quite cheap and the diversity was to marvel at!!!
look at it now poor folk from bury cant even afford a look in.
yes they sold lowery whats next?
i think all politicians have sold out because soon bury will be so expensive to live gone! are the good old days of free choice and free enterprize of the proud individual giving way to the richness of Thornfield because i tell you this no new buisness could ever afford to rent a place nor could for that matter soon will anyone because its all gone down the pan.
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