The Rock – Masterplan and Design

Date published: 16 July 2010

In defining the masterplan for The Rock retail scheme, architect BDP took into account the historical street pattern and Bury’s public realm context to make visual connections to local landmarks and buildings including St Mary’s Church.

Keen to create an active ‘circuit’ connected to the traditional high street also known as, ‘The Rock’ the masterplan ensured that the new development became fully integrated into the town centre.

The guiding principle was to form open streets and public open spaces which would recreate and extend the traditional town centre. The introduction of a new road to the East of the scheme enabled new pedestrian streets to be formed rejuvenating connections to outlying residential and edge of centre retail areas creating a regenerated sustainable town centre.

The scheme aims to reinforce Bury’s position as a market town by providing an appealing new environment for people to enjoy. New public open spaces on the retail circuit reinforce existing town centre spaces at Kay Gardens and Market Place to provide opportunities for public enjoyment and provide a focus for entrances to key buildings, public art, restaurants and cafés. In particular, St John’s Gardens represents a quieter setting surrounded by smaller shops and entrances at ground floor level to residential above.

To the south of the development public realm space at ‘Angouleme Place’ opens out to restaurants, cafés and entrances, and to first floor leisure uses, including a 10 screen Vue cinema, which redefine the historical street pattern of the site.
The realignment of Clerke Street to form a secondary street which accommodates servicing, taxi, disabled parking provision and public open space forms a focus to pedestrian routes at the rear of Mill Gate Shopping Centre and pedestrian footway leading to Minden Parade and the Market.