BURY Council is to sell of 20 of its land and buildings assets in a bid to raise £8M and rationalise its property holdings.

The council say many of its property assets are seen as ‘surplus to requirements’.

It said that Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is providing brownfield land grants on several of the sites identified for housing development and that will assist with

potential disposal options.

A report to the council’s cabinet said that other reasons for the sales were reduction in cost base and reducing the council’s exposure to health and safety risks associated with

holding vacant property.

The sites in question include the 7.2 acre New Summerseat House, Summerseat Lane, which is a former pupil learning centre.

The former Whitefield Library, Pinfold Lane is set to be sold along with land at Peel Brow, Ramsbottom.

The former playing field at Wellington Road, Bury, is also set to be auctioned off as is the site of the old day centre at Wheatfields, Victoria Avenue, Whitefield.

Other sites to be disposed of by the council include land at School Street, Radcliffe, Fir Street, Ramsbottom, Water Street, Radcliffe, 8, 10 and 12 Tithebarn Street, Bury and the site of former Bury fire station at The Rock.

In the report, Paul Lakin director of regeneration and capital growth, said: “The total pipeline of sites indicates that around £8m in capital receipts can be generated from which £600,000 is likely to be needed to drive forward the programme primarily through the appointment of a programme manager, property agent and property lawyer.”

He added that disposal of the land and buildings would be done through various methods.

He said: “Disposal of the property assets will be through land transaction, auction, marketed through an agent and community asset transfer.

“There will be a variety of property assets disposed of and it is important that there is a range of available disposal options, as not all property assets will benefit from being disposed of in the same way.”

The cabinet granted approval for the disposal of the property assets that were deemed surplus to requirements.