Three choices to develop Radcliffe town centre

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THREE new potential schemes have been unveiled for the transformation of Radcliffe town centre.

David Rudlin, of design consultant Urbed, revealed the proposals at Tuesday night’s meeting of Radcliffe local area partnership.

The firm was asked to take another look at the regeneration of the town centre, following the collapse of the SUN Quarter scheme when developer Countryside Properties pulled out due to the credit crunch.

The options for the masterplan vary depending on whether they are done in the short, middle or long term and rely on improvements to the economy.

The first scheme, which could begin now, focuses on a large retail unit with two smaller units on either side.

Value retailers Aldi and Netto, as well as sandwich chain Subway, have already expressed an interest in this scheme.

The second option, which could be done “fairly soon”, also has retail units and includes houses in the middle of the town.

A third scheme would see apartments in the town centre as well as the retail units. It would be similar to the SUN Quarter plans but could not be introduced for at least five years.

Mr Rudlin said: “No-one would be interested in this scheme now, but in a few years’ time they would want to do this.”

The new masterplan would focus on a smaller area, leaving out the Royal Mail sorting office and Radcliffe Market Hall.

But it would see the scheme arranged in a way that would encourage people to head across Pilkington Way from Asda and go into the market.

Mr Rudlin said: “It is not the lack of shoppers in Radcliffe, it is just that they are all at Asda.

“We need people to go across the road and a market that is working well will do that.”

Transport chiefs from GMPTE are also involved in the plans and are looking at ways of re-designing the bus station to fit in with the rest of the town centre.

Residents will be asked which scheme they would prefer during a consultation period, which runs from February 17 to March 12.

The plans will be available in an exhibition at Radcliffe Library, on a red bus set to visit the town centre, and on Bury Council’s and Urbed’s websites.

At the end of the consultation, the findings will be reported to the council to make its decision.