Summerseat: 16 flats to replace pub destroyed by flood

Opulwood Developments have been granted permission to build 16 apartments in the car park of the former Waterside pub on Kay Street, next to the River Irwell.

The pub was knocked down after the Boxing Day floods of 2015 which affected parts of Bury, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom.

The site is located within the green belt and the Brooksbottoms conservation area. It was formerly used to store materials but has since been cleared.

The proposals, which were put to the council's planning committee on Tuesday, said: “The River Irwell forms the boundary to the north and there are residential properties to the south and west opposite Kay Street.

“There is a commercial building and a block of residential apartments to the north on the opposite bank of the river.

Designs for what the new apartments will look like

“Both of these buildings are Grade II listed.

“The proposed development comprises the erection of a single building containing 16 apartments, four storeys in height and would be constructed from stone with a zinc clad top floor.”

During consultation, the proposal gained 10 letters of objection, with residents expressing concern that the development would be “out of keeping with conservation area” and would increase traffic issue.

READ MORE: Specscart calls for help discovering Bury building's history

Cllr Martin Hayes, who represents Eton ward, said the proposal “would make use of a brownfield site, it’s a modern design which will however blend in with the buildings opposite Mill and Gatehouse".

The application was subject to an amendment to include the use of Swift bricks, which would allow birds to nest in the building, and was approved unanimously.

The 200-year-old landmark Waterside pub partially collapsed into the swollen river on Boxing Day 2015. The flood sent beer barrels and other debris crashing down the river.