Approval expected next week for key infrastructure work, including a new pedestrian bridge, will kickstart a broader transformation of Bury’s transport interchange.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has submitted its application, which the planning committee will consider on Tuesday, 22 July. The project will introduce a new southern access point to Bury’s tram terminus.
The footbridge project is a standalone phase designed to maintain access to Metrolink services during the main interchange redevelopment, scheduled to begin as early as 2027. That larger scheme will involve the temporary closure of much of Bury’s existing interchange.
The delivery team includes Willmott Dixon (contractor), Hawkins\Brown (architect), and consultants Oobe, CBRE, Renaissance, and FutureServ.
Plans seek full approval for the following:
Infill of an existing underpass
Site remediation and foundational engineering, including piling
Land recontouring within Pyramid Park
Construction of a fully accessible pedestrian bridge spanning the tram tracks
The bridge will link Knowsley Place, the Metrolink platform (via lifts and stairs), and Pyramid Park. Adjustments have already been made to its design, increasing its width from 2m to 3m for improved accessibility.
Additional elements of the project include:
Upgrades to Metrolink platforms and canopies
Enhanced lighting
A new sloped pathway and stairs within Pyramid Park
Landscaping and improved drainage infrastructure
TfGM describes the scheme as the first stage in a phased regeneration of the interchange. It will provide a safer, more welcoming route between Union Square to the west and Pyramid Park to the east, replacing a now-closed subway criticized in planning documents for being uninviting.
The Pyramid Park area is also changing, with recent consent granted for site remediation as part of a 7.4-acre residential development. Separately, plans were validated this month to convert the nearby Lester House from office space into housing.
Ultimately, the ambition is for the revamped Bury interchange to become TfGM’s first major transport hub operating at net zero.