Bury means business – leaders attend second Bury Expo

Business leaders from across the region attended the second Bury Expo to see how the borough is being transformed for generations to come.

Unprecedented levels of funding are being invested across Bury to create thousands of jobs, new housing, attractive town centres and improved skills and employment opportunities.

The event was hosted at the Village Hotel by Bury Council, sponsored by the Growth Company, accompanied by many of its partners who are working together to bring prosperity to the borough which everyone will benefit from.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, said: “It was fabulous to hold this second Expo in Bury and meet so many of our partners who are helping to transform our borough for the better.

“We are in the most exciting and ambitious region in the country, we have an ambitious agenda around skills and partnership with businesses to bring jobs, skills and plans for the future to Bury.

“This Expo will renew our drive and ambition to continue growing Bury and working towards the overall goal of improving the lives of our residents.”

Among the speakers at the Bury Expo were:

Caroline Simpson from the GMCA, who talked about the importance of innovation and working together. Greater Manchester was the nation’s fastest growing economy, and this would lead to thriving town centres around the conurbation.

Iain Griffin and Dan Needham from the Northern Gateway Development Vehicle outlined how thousands of job opportunities will be created at the Northern Gateway site. The proposals to create the biggest employment development site in the country, at 520 acres on the border with Rochdale, is now midway through the planning process.

Richard Kelly from developers Muse brought attendees up to date with progress on transforming Prestwich town centre. This includes a new market hall, more green space, some 220 homes, and a transport hub.

Chris Roberts, chief development officer at Bruntwood, outlined the latest on the Bury town centre master plan. This major project will feature a new multi-purpose flexi-hall next to the famous Bury Market. There will be £84m invested in a new transport interchange, with scope for around 1,000 jobs and 700 new homes to be created in the town centre.

Rob Symons, contract manager for Vinci, gave an update on the Radcliffe regeneration project. More than 400 concrete piles have been laid 10m into the ground; drainage installed; steel frame roof now on. They have started to dig for the new swimming pool, and the ‘learn to swim’ pool will have a raising floor for accessibility. Foundation works for the canopy structures are now more than half completed.

Gemma Marsh from the GMCA spoke about giving young people the skills needed for future success and employment, effectively creating a pipeline for talent. It was vital for businesses to play their part to support a fully integrated employment and skills system to ensure residents can directly benefit from regeneration opportunities.

The conference also heard about housing. Some 1,200 new homes would be built across 16 sites, with £9m capital funding secured for ready to develop sites. This would include 500 new social and affordable houses in the next 2/3 years, 45 care leavers’ homes in the next 5 years, and affordable housing at the The Elms, Fletcher Fold and William Kemp Heaton sites.

Lynne Ridsdale, the council’s chief executive, said: “Bury really is the opportunity capital of Greater Manchester, and it was a pleasure to meet so many businesses and bring them up to date on a wide range of projects.

“It’s not just about new buildings, but creating real social value for our communities, with grants, job opportunities, work experience and skills boosting. Our mantra is Let’s Do It – and by working together, we will do it!”

ENDS

Photo: At the latest Bury Expo are (from left) Caroline Simpson and Gemma Marsh from the GMCA; Cllr Eamonn O’Brien; Mark Hughes, chief executive of the Growth Company; Paul Lakin, Bury’s executive director of place; and Lynne Ridsdale, chief executive of the council.