A consultation has launched over plans to develop a sustainable housing scheme and new public parkland at land west of Elton Reservoir in Bury. Residents of Radcliffe and Bury are being asked for their feedback on Peel L&P’s proposals which include new open spaces and parkland with leisure and nature uses, health facilities, new primary schools and improved access to Radcliffe to support the ongoing regeneration of the local area.

New transport improvements and more sustainable travel options would ease congestion around Bury and Radcliffe town centres including a new link road connecting Bury in the north with Radcliffe in the south.

This will provide a new north-south travel corridor including a high-quality bus route and safer facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. There could also be a new Metrolink station and travel hub at Warth Fold.

The project represents an investment worth half a billion pounds to the area and brings further economic benefits to both towns creating 240 full time jobs each year during construction and over 100 additional jobs for residents.

The proposals would also see over £75 million spent in local shops and leisure facilities by new residents and a council tax revenue for Bury Council of £9m to help improve local services further. The land west of Elton Reservoir is included in the emerging Places for Everyone (PfE) plan, which sets out how each borough can meet the local need for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth.

PfE has earmarked the site for up to 3,500 new homes which would include affordable housing options and homes to buy or rent for families, first-time buyers and downsizers as well as retirement and extra care living.

Homes would be highly energy efficient and sustainably designed, to lower running costs for residents. The plans have been formed around the Elton and Withins reservoirs, which will be retained and enhanced, and seek to complement the current natural landscape.

Over two-thirds of the site will remain as green space and parkland and the planned new neighbourhood would be well-connected to nature, with green space that will be made more accessible to all and extend beyond the current rights of way to help improve people’s health and wellbeing.

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