Major news about Radcliffe Regeneration

Detailed images of the plans to regenerate Radcliffe town centre have been revealed and are being sent to every household in Radcliffe.

Residents are urged to read the first edition of Investing in Radcliffe News, which has all the latest information about the multi-million pound transformation of the town centre.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “This is just the news that Radcliffe residents have been waiting for – details of what’s coming, and when it’s coming.

“Yes, Radcliffe has had its challenges over the years, and some disappointments. But, as the town reaches a turning point, residents can be sure that change for the better is coming soon.

“Unprecedented sums of money are being invested in Radcliffe to bring about major physical improvements, create new facilities, and make the right environment for communities to prosper, renew pride in their town and live their best lives.

“As Radcliffe’s regeneration programme gets under way, people across the town can genuinely look forward to a brighter future.

“With a brand-new school, plus modern town centre facilities for leisure, plus a new library and wellbeing, learning and cultural opportunities, Radcliffe is most definitely on the up.”

More details of the Radcliffe Regeneration plans are listed below, and are also on the council’s website at www.bury.gov.uk/radclifferegen-summer2022

Get involved – come and discuss the plans!

Our leisure, library and regeneration teams will at the following public engagement events – come and meet them!

Radcliffe Library:

* Tuesday 16 August - 9.30am to 12.30pm

* Thursday 18 August - 4pm to 7pm

Radcliffe Leisure Centre

• Tuesday 23 August - 9.30am to 12:30pm
• Thursday 25 August - 3pm to 7pm

Radcliffe Market:

• Saturday 10 September - 10am to 12.30pm

Alternatively:

• Complete our online survey, available from Monday 15 August:

see www.bury.gov.uk/radclifferegen-summer2022

• Come and talk to us at Radcliffe Regeneration Office:

see www.bury.gov.uk/radclifferegeneration-officefor current opening times

• Send us an email or phone us: email radclifferegeneration@bury.gov.uk or call 0161 253 7760.

In detail - the Radcliffe Regeneration transformation

The new Radcliffe High School:

This month, detailed design work for the 750-place school will be started by the Government’s Department for Education. Meanwhile, Star Multi Academy Trust – who will run the school - are already having meetings with local primary schools and families to ensure a smooth transition. It is expected that building work will start in September 2023 and the new school be ready to open in autumn 2024.

Radcliffe Civic Hub

This will be the new permanent home for leisure in Radcliffe, together with a new library, learning opportunities, community space and enhanced support for health and wellbeing.

Designs for the £40 million scheme will be finalised before the end of this year, with demolition and construction to take place from late 2022 to summer 2024.

Leisure in Radcliffe

Leisure will move from the temporary Spring Lane site into its new, permanent town centre home in the summer of 2024. 

We are designing spaces for everyone and all ages from birth and beyond. Customers who will be transferring from the current leisure centre and new people who want to become healthier through support. This means a larger gym, more space for fitness including an outdoor roof space studio, and a larger swimming and learner pool. We are planning the new facilities to be at the heart of Radcliffe and the new centre will provide a range of wellness initiatives to support local people.

The new Civic Hub will provide leisure facilities including:

• A 6-lane 25m swimming pool, with a separate training and teaching pool and poolside seating for 150 spectators
• A 100-station high-tech gym, and 2 large purpose-built fitness studios
• Dedicated consultation rooms for one-to-one health and wellbeing conversations
• Modern, accessible changing areas, including a Changing Places changing room
• Café and teaching pool viewing area, shared with library customers
• A rooftop activity space, and multiple climbing walls provided by Clip ‘n’ Climb

A new state-of-the-art library

The new library in the Civic Hub will be open for longer, seven days a week.

Split across two floors, it will boast:

• A much bigger dedicated children’s library on the ground floor
• A more inclusive library, with sensory pods to provide a calming space for children with autism and other diverse needs
• A wider selection of books and reading materials, and better reading and relaxation areas
• A ground floor community space to support Radcliffe’s community groups and to provide a home for adult learning
• Improved computer access, faster Wi-Fi and more opportunities for learning digital skills
• A dedicated area for local history and archives, and space for an extensive programme of regular events
• Longer opening hours with self-access/self-service options outside normal hours

The New Enterprise and Skills Centre

When Radcliffe Library moves out of its existing home at Stand Lane, the building will turned into an Enterprise and Skills Centre.

This will focus on employment opportunities and business support for oca start-ups and small to medium enterprises. It will also be a home for adult learning, skills development, and council services.

Sustainability

The town centre projects will follow the BREEAM ‘excellent’ national standard for environmental performance.

The new Radcliffe Civic Hub will be net zero, with any carbon emissions cancelled out by green technology and operational offsetting.

Solar panels will be installed at the Civic Hub and at Market Chambers, and the Piazza bandstand will have a ‘green’ roof.

State-of-the-art, airtight building fabric will be used throughout, and all buildings and public spaces will have low-energy lighting. Heat recovery techniques will be used to heat the swimming pool areas.

Market Chambers

The Market Chambers building is being fully refurbished, with shops and cafes on the ground floor and office and studio space on the first and second floors.

Radcliffe Market and Market Basement

• The Market Basement will be made into a large, flexible event space, with a Changing Places changing room.
• A balcony will be built onto Radcliffe Market which will overlook the River Irwell.
• To create access to the Market Basement and the upper floors of Market Chambers, an external terrace will be created by demolishing and replacing the old TSB building.
• It will be ‘business as usual’ at Radcliffe Market, which will continue to trade while the refurbishment works are ongoing.

Radcliffe Piazza and beyond

• The piazza will be relaid using high-quality paving.
• Much-loved features including the traditional bandstand and clock tower will be retained.
• The permanent sculpture and memorial dedicated to John Atkinson will be retained and respected.
• An improved space will be made between the Market and the Civic Hub that will create a quality outdoor space for the Market to spill out onto.

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 August 2022.