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DEVELOPERS spearheading a £350 million overhaul of The Rock have given the Bury Times exclusive access to the site.

With the massive construction project just passing the halfway point, design firm Thornfield allowed us a sneak peak.

A launch date of July 16 is still on schedule and bosses have confirmed an impressive roster of companies that will move in, to rival other shopping area magnets such as the Trafford Centre and Manchester city centre.

Thornfield director Peter Warden, who has been working on the project for a decade, said: “Work is progressing smoothly and we can’t wait for July.

“Debenhams is finished and is ready to hand over to the company for furnishing and we are already showing people around our apartments.

“People from Bury and the surrounding areas will have a real alternative to Manchester. We will have some great shops, so why travel further afield?”

When the ribbon is cut next summer, the face of Bury town centre will change forever, as a new contrast of the old and new is established.

The traditional Bury Market will remain a huge draw, but the town centre focus will shift slightly east to the 21st-century Rock centre.

It will be split into four sections — homes, restaurants, shops and entertainment.

There are 408 apartments, a mix of one and two bedrooms, costing £100,000 and upwards.

Most are still a way off completion, but visitors can now have a look at a show apartment adjoined to the visitors’ centre, opposite Bury fire station.

A dining quarter has emerged at the Rochdale Road end, featuring eight restaurants, including Pizza Express, an American-style diner, an Indian restaurant and a huge Chinese restaurant with a terrace.

Taking the escalator upstairs, there will be a 10-screen Vue cinema, which is currently being soundproofed, as there will be a 24-lane AMF 10-pin bowling venue next door.

And as well as Debenhams, there will be dozens of shops such as Marks and Spencer, Next and River Island positioned along the new High Street either side of a new central meeting place, St John’s Square.

There will be 1,250 parking spaces created on the site for visitors, for which there will be a charge.

Mr Warden said: “We have to charge to deter people from parking there all day while they are at work in Manchester. Charges will be kept low and visitors will get good value.

“We still have some big names to announce once details are agreed. Everyone involved in this project is tremendously excited about the completion.

“We have been working on it for a decade and, once it is complete, Thornfield will probably be around for another 10 years to make sure The Rock is as good as it can be.”