Thornfield Properties has secured planning permission for a £330m mixed use development in Bury town centre.

The London-based developer secured permission from Bury Metropolitan Council for an enlarged version of ‘The Rock’ after revising the plans.

The Rock, being developed on 17 acres of land in Bury Town centre, will provide 1.6m sq ft of retail, leisure and residential space.

M&S rocks up

The revised plans include a new 77,000 sq ft department store for Marks & Spencer to go alongside the planned 103,000 sq ft Debenhams store.

There will be 60 other retail stores, including 20,000 sq ft for fashion chain Next, as well as eight restaurants, a cinema and a bowling alley.

The scheme, designed by architect BDP, also includes 397 apartments and a 1,250 space multi-storey car park.

Open in 2010

Thornfield intends to open the main retail and leisure elements of the scheme in 2010.

Jason Marcus, chairman of Thornfield, said: ‘We strongly believe this will act as a catalyst for major inward investment in Bury from other retailers and commercial occupiers that will deliver benefits to Bury in a much wider sense.’

CB Richard Ellis and Gooch Cunliffe Whale advised Thornfield.

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