Planning permission granted for new homes in courthouse

Planning permission has been granted for forty-nine new homes at the former magistrates court building in Bury town centre.

The residential scheme, by Prestwich-based developer Cassel & Fletcher, will see the conversion of the building into 39 apartments and the construction of ten separate three-bedroom dwellings to provide large family homes for local people.

The former court building, which was closed in 2018 by the Ministry of Justice, will be converted over three levels to provide twenty-two one-bedroom and seventeen two-bedroom apartments with parking provided at the rear and accessed from Walshe Street.

Cassel & Fletcher acquired the building in July 2018 from Homes England.
The company will also be the lead contractor on the scheme and work is expected to start in March.

Gideon Levene, director at Cassel & Fletcher, said: “This is a great opportunity to bring the former magistrates building back to life and increase the housing provision for local people.

“We specialise in refurbishing derelict properties and creating desirable new homes in great locations and this building is in a superb central spot in the heart of Bury town centre.

“We are delighted that we have now secured planning and are looking forward to making an immediate start using the skilled local labour force wherever possible.”

Development and construction firm Cassel & Fletcher is a family-run business which was established over 50 years ago in Salford. It is now developing properties across the north west and into Yorkshire.

The company previously converted the Ribblesdale Medical Centre in Bury town centre to apartments and has other apartment schemes in Rochdale, South Manchester and Bradford.

The design team includes MDA Architecture, BMC Structural Engineer an M&E consultants EDP.