Major plans for Bury as Bruntwood and Bury Council JV acquires shopping centre

A joint venture between property giant Bruntwood and Bury Council has paved the way for the redevelopment of Mill Gate shopping centre in Bury town centre.

The town regeneration pioneer and Council has acquired the 15-acre site and will work together to create a multi-million-pound masterplan to transform the shopping centre and the surrounding areas, as well as enhancing the existing character of the town centre.

The vision for the area includes a mixed-used development incorporating retail, leisure, hospitality and residential, with sustainability, education and wellness at its heart.

It will also provide workspace, bringing co-working facilities directly to the high street.

Bruntwood is working on a similar project with Trafford Council on the revamp of Stretford Mall.

InfraRed purchased Mill Gate from Aberdeen Asset Management in 2014 for £52m and has since invested £20m at the centre.

Chris Roberts, chief development officer at Bruntwood, said: “Town centres are spaces where people gather to connect and communicate. Creating thriving towns and cities is our purpose and we are proud of our track record of transformational town centre regeneration projects in Greater Manchester to date.

“Through this new project in Bury, we are confident that we can create an environment that provides for the needs of the people of the town and beyond.

“We want to create a place where people want to live, work and socialise, which is why we’ll be undertaking an extensive consultation period with local residents to ensure it provides for their needs and wants.

“Bury has a strong local identity and this is something we want to celebrate and amplify throughout this project and can this only be achieved by working side-by-side with local people.”

He added: “As the next step in our mission to create thriving towns, Bury presents an excellent opportunity to use everything we have learned in Stretford and Altrincham and help provide a town centre that works and is something the people of Bury can be proud of.”

Over the next few months, the partnership will host a community engagement event where local people will have the opportunity to have their say about what they want to see in their town.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, said: “These are huge proposals, but an opportunity that we cannot miss. Local jobs, businesses, public services and the very quality of people’s lives depend on us taking the initiative, with all partners and agencies working together to deliver prosperity for all.

“Our plans for the Mill Gate centre will complement initiatives for a new flexi-hall on Bury Market and improvements in the wider area, plus a new transport interchange, aimed at ‘future proofing’ the town centre against the challenges posed by the changing retail landscape.

“Under our regeneration proposals, we are determined to ensure that every part of our borough will flourish.”