An “ambitious” multi-purpose civic hub in Radcliffe is one step closer to being realised after proposals received unanimous council support.
The civic hub, which was first proposed in 2021, aims to provide improved leisure and public services to Radcliffe as well transforming the town centre as part of a wider regeneration effort.
Several buildings in the town centre, including the former TSB bank on Blackburn Street, will be demolished to make way for the construction of the hub.
Half of the funding for the £40m project was provided by the council in addition to £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, which was secured in October 2021.
The civic hub will contain a number of amenities including a library, swimming pools, offices, and a cafeteria.
In August last year, the council released fresh designs for the civic hub after initially images drew backlash from residents.
The council expects work on the hub to be complete by winter 2024 with hopes work on the development will begin as soon as possible.
Proposals for the Radcliffe Civic Hub were unanimously approved by the council’s planning control committee on Tuesday, as councillors welcomed the ‘ambitious’ project.
Radcliffe First Cllr Mary Walsh, who represents Radcliffe East said she “can’t wait” for hub to be built.
She said: “I’m quite excited by this development for making Radcliffe better.”
“I think this long overdue and quite an amazing and ambitious scheme that will certainly benefit Radcliffe.
“I don’t think we’ve had anything quite a major as this, In the number of years in planning I can’t remember something quite a radical as this, it’s quite mind blowing what’s being proposed.”
Conservative Cllr for Bury West, Dene Vernon, said: “As someone who was born and bred in Radcliffe and spent his childhood in the town centre I must admit to having seen the town being sadly neglected over the years.
“This development excites me, it’s great to see that money is being put into the town centre, hopefully this is going to be the beginning of further regeneration of Radcliffe it’s a prime example of levelling up and what its meant to be.”
The civic hub joins a number of additional projects forming part of the regeneration scheme including a new secondary school on the former Coney Green High school site and improved all-weather pitches for Radcliffe FC.
Committee chair Cllr Sean Thorpe said: “A good example of local and national government working in tandem to create what we hope will be a regenerative scheme.”
After the meeting, council leader, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, said: “It’s great news for Radcliffe that our plans for the new civic hub have been given the green light.
“We are investing unprecedented amounts of money into regenerating Radcliffe, and the hub will play a crucial part in that, transforming the town centre for generations to come.
“Local residents and businesses have been keenly awaiting this – now, working together, we can all get on with making it happen.”
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