Plans approved to transform Bury Market with £20million flexible events hall

Huge plans to transform Bury Market with the creation of multi-million pound ‘flexi-hall’ and a new roof have been given the green light.

Under the proposals lodged by Bury council, the existing buildings on Murray Road, 47–51 Market Street and 2-10 Princess Parade will be demolished to build a new £20m flexible events hall.

This would ‘create a focal point and would act as a gateway feature to Bury town centre’, bosses say.

The three-storey ‘flexi-hall’ in the western part of the site will contain two floors, constructed from brick and timber and accessed from Murray Road.

It would be used for conferences, meetings and training, banquets, awards dinners, drinks receptions, small trade exhibitions, public exhibitions, weddings, private parties and Christmas parties.

A new canopy structure will be installed to cover the existing outdoor market and temporary permission for a construction compound on the market car park has also been granted.

Other uses for the hall include space for support groups, hobby groups and indoor sports. The planning application states that music concerts, dancing, boxing matches, festivals, pop-up trading could also happen at the events hall and that it would house offices for market staff, as well as a cafe.

The new canopy structure would be a membrane with polycarbonate panels and would consist of a canopy with a series of pitched roofs set above the existing market stalls.

The construction compound would be erected in the south eastern corner of the market car park on the south side of Angouleme Way.

The buildings that will be demolished on Market Street and Princess Parade currently contain commercial and retail units, with the building on Murray Road contains the market offices.

Funding for the project is coming from Bury council’s successful bid to the government’s Levelling Up fund, and form part of the wider regeneration of the town centre.

In the report presented to the planning committee, officers stated: “This scheme forms part of wider plans to transform and regenerate the town centre, which include a new transport interchange and a redeveloped Mill Gate centre.

“It is recognised that the market plays a vital role for local customers and traders, while also drawing visitors from afar.

“While the proposed development would not be a retail use, it would complement the market and the surrounding retail units by increasing footfall. through diversification.

“As such, the proposed development would not harm the existing retail offer and would enhance the market facilities.”

The plans were approved by the authority’s planning control committee, subject to conditions.