Radcliffe regeneration

Radcliffe

The Radcliffe Strategic Regeneration Framework

The Strategic Regeneration Framework is the guide that is shaping the direction of Radcliffe's growth over the next 15 years with a series of realistic short, medium, and longer-term actions. It is also guiding the direction of future council investment, supporting bids for central governmental funding and providing certainty for third parties wanting to invest in town.

The Strategic Regeneration Framework's content builds upon previous regeneration work, extensive stakeholder engagement, including a formal six-week consultation in summer 2020, and comprehensive analyses of Radcliffe's demographic data.

The Strategic Regeneration Framework was adopted by Bury council in September 2020, and benefits from cross-party support, which has been formalised in a robust governance structure (see Governance).

Work has begun on the Strategic Regeneration Framework's priority projects, which the council intend to deliver in the short to medium term (see Radcliffe Strategic Regeneration Framework priority projects). These include:

A new civic hub in central Radcliffe, which will bring together a mix of functions at the heart of the town
Refurbishment of the market basement and the revamping of market chambers
New leisure facilities
A secondary school on the Coney Green site
A "whole town approach" to housing, bringing forward a comprehensive approach to residential development in Radcliffe
A transportation strategy, which will consider matters such as active travel and car parking

For further information on Radcliffe's regeneration please see our frequently asked questions page.

Radcliffe's Civic Hub Levelling Up Fund bid

Central government announced the details of The Levelling Up Fund in the March 2021 budget. It is a competitive fund which focuses on projects that can deliver visible change over a short period of time. Local Authorities can submit bids of up to £20 million for town centre regeneration investment. See Levelling Up Fund for more information

On 18 June 2021, Bury Council submitted a bid for £20 million to the Levelling Up Fund to support the development of a mixed-use civic hub, which will comprise sustainable, modern new build facilities, alongside the refurbishment of key council assets, in the heart of Radcliffe town centre.

The proposals incorporate a brand-new wellness and leisure facility, and library and learning centre, which is coupled with flexible space for local businesses and community groups, as well as integrated shops, food and drink outlets, and space for local events.

The interventions have been designed following an assessment of data on Radcliffe's needs and will:

Make Radcliffe's residents healthier, and more prosperous. This will be achieved by co-locating complementary council services (leisure services, library services, economic development, and adult learning services) and clinical commissioning group staff (the integrated neighbourhood health team) and will be complemented by supportive space for business startups. By working together in a flexible space, the services can improve coordination, be more accessible for residents, enhance referral and joint action, and ensure that all Radcliffe residents have the opportunities for supported skills development, job creation and business growth. This in turn will provide opportunities for the most deprived groups to benefit from Levelling Up
Improve council performance by clearing poor quality, obsolete building stock, decarbonising existing council buildings, and ensuring that the new civic hub is carbon neutral in construction and operation
Reinvigorate Radcliffe's high street. The physical fabric of Radcliffe will be improved through the clearance of deteriorating, poor quality buildings and their replacement by a state-of-the-art civic hub. The street scene will also be improved by refurbishments to council owned buildings, such as market chambers
Strengthen the town centre by diversifying activity. The challenges for traditional town centres, presented by out of town and online retailing have been exacerbated by Covid-19. The provision of new leisure facilities, cultural/events space, and workplaces for small businesses will make the town more resilient, be an important source of employment, and boost footfall, which will benefit the wider town centre
Give the town a modern centrepiece that residents can be proud of

The civic hub

The civic hub will be a modern new build, located on the south block of the existing 1960's precinct in the town centre and will contain leisure, library, and learning facilities, other complementary council and clinical commissioning group services to support wellness and skills development, as well as high quality retail, food and beverage outlets, and community events space.

The building is designed to have 360-degree active frontages to maximise street-side activity.

North block

The north block of the existing 1960's precinct will be developed to provide surface level car parking and in the longer-term to contain uses which will be complementary to the civic hub building.

The market and market chambers

The market chambers building will be refurbished to house flexible commercial office space, as well as a retail, and food and beverage offer. The building will have major environmental improvements, the delivery of which will begin in the near future, following its recent award of almost £1 million from the Greater Manchester Decarbonisation Fund.

Market Chambers will be linked to the adjacent market, with access to a newly refurbished basement space which will provide a community and cultural events suite.

The enterprise centre

The existing Carnegie library will be refurbished and repurposed as a publicly accessible community skills and enterprise centre. It will be designed to complement both the civic and wellness functions of the hub for residents and will support the development of skills, and local start-ups. This will support local business activity linked to the market and market chambers, as well as the wider business community in Radcliffe.

Supporting works

These developments will be supported, and their functions linked more closely together by enhanced public realm and the provision of infrastructure to support active travel, and improved accessibility to public transport.