Bury will receive government funding to transform brownfield sites into ‘thriving neighbourhoods.’

The borough is one of 60 local authorities to receive funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to turn unused land into housing.

Bury will receive a total funding award of £1,731,015. The government expects that more than 6,000 homes will be built across the UK under the scheme involving 100 projects.

The investment is part of the second phase of the £180million Brownfield Land Release Fund, with cash going directly to councils so they can release the land and get building as soon as possible.

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Derelict car parks, industrial sites and town centre buildings that have fallen into disrepair will all benefit from the new funding, with the government supporting communities to bring land back into use.

The government has been clear it has a brownfield-first approach to building the homes this country needs through its long-term plan for housing and today’s announcement will help deliver that.

A Bury Council spokesperson said: “Bury Council has historically worked to develop housing on brownfield sites, in the past 10 years 86 per cent of housing completions have been on brownfield land.

"Throughout 2023 work has been approved and begun construction for 366 affordable houses across the borough all on brownfield sites. This is a part of the council’s Business Growth and Infrastructure Service and Brownfield Housing Programme where affordable housing has been successfully negotiated.

"Bury Council will continue to seek out brownfield sites and is dedicated to creating more affordable housing throughout Bury.”

Responding to the plans, Conservative MP for Bury North, James Daly said: “I am delighted the government are providing substantial funds to assist in the release of appropriate brownfield land for development.

"This follows on from recent policy announcements that give Bury Council every opportunity to protect green belt land, currently under threat from the Places for Everyone master plan for our area.

"It is time that Bury Council kick started the development of truly affordable homes on brownfield sites within Bury, something they have spectacularly failed to do over many years to the detriment of local residents.”

In response, Labour MP Bury South Christian Wakeford said: "People in this country are crying out for homes and opportunities to get on the housing ladder and have been badly let down by this government.

“The number of new social homes being built is down 90 per cent since they came to power and even if people can find a house they’re struggling to find a mortgage due to Liz Truss’ calamitous budget that crashed the economy and caused interest rates to go through the roof."

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The 2019 draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) proposed a target of an average of 498 new homes in Bury each year to meet needs to 2037.

Bury is also a part of Places for Everyone (PfE) a region-wide scheme which aims to address housing need.

The scheme has drawn some controversy for its use of greenfield sites in locations such as Walshaw and Elton reservoir.