Two new development schemes planned for Radcliffe

The regeneration of Radcliffe is set to continue through plans to build quality affordable homes and expansion of Bury Council’s future vision for leisure in the town.

With a £1 million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, 40 high quality affordable homes are planned for the site of Radcliffe Civic Suite.Plans are also being developed for building a new leisure and entertainment venue to replace Radcliffe Civic Suite and the temporary Radcliffe Leisure Centre. The new combined leisure facility is planned for Green Street, the site of former Radcliffe Pool.

The housing scheme will give local people better access to good quality low cost homes and will be taken forward in partnership with Great Places Housing Group.

As the grant from the Homes and Communities Agency is based on the site of Radcliffe Civic Suite and fixed to specific timescales, it is planned that Radcliffe Civic Suite will close from Sunday 17 April 2016.

To support future plans for leisure in Radcliffe, the council is carrying out a survey. People have until Friday 18 December 2015 to have their say on what they would want from a new leisure and entertainment venue.

Councillor Rishi Shori, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance and housing, said: “Ongoing regeneration in Radcliffe is important to us and we’ve kept to our promises on this. In the last year alone we have opened the new swimming pool and leisure centre in Spring Lane, carried out a £1 million refurbishment of Radcliffe Market Hall, and ensured the construction of a new bus station. A new retail-led development in the town centre is on its way very soon too.

“This housing scheme presents us with a fantastic opportunity to provide much-needed affordable homes, and the resultant closure of Radcliffe Civic Suite gives us a real opportunity to expand our vision for leisure for the town. The housing grant is strictly time limited and site specific, and we must take advantage of this opportunity now, or we would lose it.

“We know quality leisure facilities have a vital role to play in improving the health and wellbeing of our communities and we’re now looking closely at how we can provide a modern, sustainable leisure and entertainment venue that meets the long-term needs of the community. To help us with this, we want as many people as possible to respond to our survey - we need to build up a detailed picture of what residents in Radcliffe want for the future.”

Full details of the housing scheme will be finalised via the planning process and the disposal of the adjoining public open space will be formally advertised.

Customers who have made bookings at Radcliffe Civic Suite beyond the closing date of Sunday 17 April 2016 will be contacted promptly by Bury Venues and offered alternative arrangements at one of the council’s other venues. The cost of using the other venues is usually higher than at Radcliffe Civic Suite but there will be no extra charge for moving venue.

To download an information leaflet and take part in the survey to input into the future plans for leisure in Radcliffe, visit www.bury.gov.uk/radcliffe-regeneration. Alternatively, pick up a leaflet and a copy of the survey from Radcliffe Civic Suite, Radcliffe Leisure Centre or Radcliffe Library.

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 October 2015.