New proposals aim to meet a long-standing ambition to redevelop Irwell Street in the town centre, which will potentially bring a new major foodstore to the site of the former police HQ – which is currently being dismantled – joined with the existing Castle Leisure Centre. The new food store will only go ahead once a new leisure centre is built at Knowsley Place, opposite the town hall, on top of the Q Park.

The proposals were approved by the council’s cabinet last night (Wednesday 10 April). The council will enter into a three-year agreement with its development partners Ask, who will take the scheme forward and market the site at Irwell Street to potential food retailers and investors. The planned leisure centre would be funded by the sale of the site - no public money is to be spent.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “This is a fantastic proposal which we hope will bring yet more investment and jobs to Bury, following major developments in recent years such as The Rock.

“The success of The Rock has greatly enhanced Bury’s attractiveness to visitors. However, we also need to look at regenerating other parts of the town centre, such as Bolton Street. Studies have shown that we need an improved town centre food offer, which regenerates the derelict site of the GMP building and creates significant job opportunities for local people.

“We would also have new and sustainable high quality leisure facilities at Knowsley Place in a modern, more efficient environmentally friendly building. It would be ideally situated, close to the transport interchange, the new Premier Inn and the local colleges, and with car parking beneath it.

“I want to reassure our staff and the thousands of leisure centre members that they will enjoy the very latest in leisure facilities and we hope they too will stay with us as we look to provide this new leisure centre for them and all our residents.”

Cllr Connolly added: “It’s early days, and I can’t go into the funding details at this stage, but these are ambitious and realistic plans that keep us one step ahead of the game. We are determined to keep this town and borough going forward and continue to make Bury a great place in which to live, work, study and to visit.”