A £20M REDEVELOPMENT could see a gym, KFC and Costa Coffee drive-through transform a vacant retail complex.

Plans have been submitted to Bury Council to transform Park 66, in Pilsworth, which has become unused since the cinema closed in 2010 and other retailers moved out.

The proposals, which include a retail and gym unit for JD Sports, would create several hundred jobs. Project bosses at development firm Sladen Estates, consulted with neighbours and members of the public before submitting the application.

A planning statement said: “The site has unfortunately been the subject of anti-social behaviour and trespass although the buildings were demolished in 2016 to slab level. It is fair to say that there has been much support for the principle of the redevelopment of the site with the emphasis being on the need to deliver jobs, and bring the site back into use. Concern has been expressed on certain issues such as traffic.”

The vacant site, just off Junction 3 of the M66, was previously home to the Warner Brothers cinema multiplex which stood on the site for more than 20 years but it was taken over by Vue and closed in June, 2010, and replaced by a new cinema at The Rock shopping centre, in the town centre.

Such a big application could take up to 16 weeks for Bury Council to deal with before a decision is made.

Unsworth ward Cllr Paul Adams said: “Park 66 was once a focal point in the area for leisure but once the cinema complex moved into the centre of Bury the site became derelict and was finally bulldozed.

“The plan to provide some retail, leisure on this site and provide much needed jobs is a step towards the regeneration of the area.

“Of course the plans will need to take into account the additional increase in traffic that this will bring Croft Lane and I would hope that if the plan is approved then consideration would be made to improve public transport to Pilsworth, which is a concern that is voiced regularly by local residents.”