Bury Council visits new Green Street development in Radcliffe

Councillor Gareth Staples-Jones, Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth, joined Great Places Housing Group to view progress on its £17 million affordable housing development at Green Street in Radcliffe.

Part of the wider masterplan for Radcliffe Town Centre Great Places, in partnership with Salford based builder Watson Homes, is building 97 affordable homes at the site in a mix of one and two bed apartments. In addition Watson Homes are delivering 35 homes for private rent and 13,000 sq. ft of mixed use commercial space.

A total of 132 new homes will be delivered on this key gateway site, designed to meet the high levels of demand from smaller households in the area. The new homes are mixed tenure for social rent, rent to buy and market rent.

Cllr Staples-Jones was joined by Great Places’ Director of Development, Nick Gornall and Simon Harrison, Contracts Manager from Watson Homes to view progress at the site.

Commenting on the visit, Nick Gornall, Director of Development at Great Places said:

“We’re delighted to have shown Cllr Staples-Jones around the site. We’re pleased that this development will bring much-needed affordable homes to Radcliffe whilst also providing high quality design which will transform this key gateway site leading into the town centre. Alongside the investment from Watson Homes on the site and the investment from Bury Council to regenerate the wider town centre area we are confident that the completed development will offer a vibrant and sustainable community for our customers to call home.

“We’re committed to building affordable homes in all of the areas we operate in, and we’re confident that Green Street will help to go some way to address the shortage of affordable housing in the area and play our part in the regeneration of Radcliffe Town Centre.

Cllr Staples Jones, added:

“This will be a superb development that will complement the major ongoing regeneration of Radcliffe Town Centre.

“We need a range of housing across the borough that can meet the needs of all ages, family size and income. With such a high percentage of affordable housing, this site at Green Street will be perfect for smaller households and young people.

“This development will provide people with much-needed new homes and create new employment opportunities – and all on a brownfield site too.”

Simon Harrison, Contracts Manager, Watson Homes, said:

“This is a key development for the town of Radcliffe and this development goes beyond affordability, prioritising sustainability, and energy efficiency throughout. These homes will be equipped with leading technologies including air-source heat pumps and solar PV panels, ensuring they are environmentally friendly and helping residents save on energy costs. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we continue efforts to do what we can, with regards to the shortfall of affordable housing.”

Green Street was identified as part of the Radcliffe Strategic Regeneration Framework as a key placemaking site, suitable for mixed use development at scale.

The plans for the wider site include 13,000 sq. ft. for a mixed-use commercial building, including office and retail space, as well as food and beverage units and a separate private rented block.

Designed by TADW Architects, the buildings will be finished to a high specification recognising the sites gateway location and will incorporate low carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar PV panels.

In line with Bury Council’s aspirations to develop this area as a key gateway into Radcliffe, it’s anticipated that the new homes will contribute to long-term development of a resilient and vibrant community, benefitting from all the local facilities of Radcliffe whilst adding to the wider sustainability of the town centre.

The site is set to be completed in autumn 2025.

ENDS

Issued: 13 March 2024.

About Great Places

Social purpose is at the heart of Great Places Housing Group. A not-for-profit organisation, Great Places owns over 25,000 affordable homes in more than 30 local authority areas across the North West and South Yorkshire. In 2022/23 Great Places delivered 649 new affordable homes, had an additional 1,600 homes on-site and sold 192 homes for shared ownership. It invested £110M into building new homes as well as running a wide range of projects and initiatives to help our customers and their communities (www.greatplaces.org.uk).