Green light for new housing on Pyramid Park

Council plans to bring 148 new homes to a brownfield site next to the town centre have been given the green light.

The project, at Pyramid Park, will create a mixed housing scheme primarily aimed at younger adults and young professionals, small families and older people.

The 7.4-acre site was a former railway goods yard and sidings. Located between Market Street and Knowsley Street, the site is ideally situated for access to the town centre and public transport via the nearby Bury Interchange.

Public transport connectivity for this site will be further enhanced through provision of a new step-free access to Metrolink as part of the proposed redevelopment of Bury Interchange by Transport for Greater Manchester.

The council has just been awarded £1.7 million from the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund to remediate the site, provide a new access road and prepare it for redevelopment.

This is in addition to the investment already secured by Bury Council as part of accelerating council owned brownfield housing sites.

Councillor Clare Cummins, cabinet member for housing services, said: “There are high levels of need for housing in the town centre, and this is an excellent location, with access to facilities and amenities.

“It will provide apartments and houses, with a percentage of them affordable, for younger adults. It’s further evidence of our commitment to bring brownfield sites back into use for housing.”

Work on the Pyramid Park scheme will begin in spring next year subject to planning approval.

Brownfield First

The council has won £9.4m of capital funding and £290k in revenue funding to prepare brownfield sites for development – creating 1,572 homes.

Council owned sites:

• Wheatfields: 30 affordable homes comprising 4 houses, 6 bungalows and cottage flats (affordable rent/capped at Local Housing Allowance rates), and 14 shared ownership houses.
• Fletcher Fold: 40 social rented independent living apartments for older people including those with a learning disability and 4 Shared ownership bungalows for older people.
• Seedfield: 84 homes, including 21 affordable homes (9 affordable rent, 6 first homes and 6 shared ownership)
• School Street, Radcliffe: 90 homes including 22 affordable homes (6 affordable rent, 6 first homes, 10 shared ownership)
• Green Street, Radcliffe: 132 apartments (97 affordable)
• Pyramid Park: 148 homes
• East Lancashire Paper Mill, Radcliffe: 400 homes (100 affordable)
• William Kemp Heaton: 43 affordable homes (all social rent) comprising 8 bungalows, 7 houses, 10 cottage flats and 18 supported apartments for people with a learning disability and/or autism.
• Willow Street: 13 self-contained apartments for adults with a physical and/or sensory disability or learning disability.
• Prestwich Village: 200 homes
• Humphrey House: 65 apartments
• Town Centre Sheltered Housing Scheme: 30 units
• The Elms: 30 units
• Town Centre specialist accommodation: 30 units

The council has also supported these successful BHF bids on privately owned sites:

• East Lancashire Paper Mill – Island site: 27 100% affordable units
• York Street: 210 homes