Police HQ to be demolished – Castle Leisure Centre to stay put

Work will start in the New Year to demolish the former Greater Manchester Police HQ in Irwell Street, Bury.

Residents living nearby are receiving letters informing them of the work, which is likely to run from late January until mid-June, and about measures that will be taken to minimise disruption.

The demolition co-incides with news that plans to bring a major food store to the site of the police HQ and adjacent Castle Leisure Centre are now unlikely to come forward. The original proposal was to sell the site to a developer and use the proceeds to build a new leisure centre at Knowsley Place above the Q Park.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for resource and regulation, said: “The major supermarket operators have suddenly decided to scale back their expansion plans and all the evidence suggests that they now are concentrating on developing much smaller outlets with the result that it now seems unlikely that a large food store will be built on this site in the foreseeable future.

“The council and its development partner Ask Real Estate are therefore considering other redevelopment options for the police headquarters site. A smaller development will mean, however, that there is no longer a need to relocate the Castle Leisure Centre and consequently it will remain in its current location.”

Cllr Walmsley added: “We remain committed to regenerating the area between Bolton Street and Jubilee Way and the demolition of the former police HQ is an essential step in this process. We are currently working up some exciting new proposals for the site and will consult on these widely as soon as the viability studies are completed.

“In the meantime we can assure local residents and businesses that all possible steps will be taken to minimise disruption during the demolition works.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 December 2014.