Repaving Works At The Rock Begin In February 2009

Date published: 25/11/2008

As part of the ongoing expansion of Bury Town Centre, repaving works to improve the pedestrianised area of The Rock are scheduled to begin in February 2009. The work will result in significant improvements to the stretch of The Rock from The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Early Learning Centre to the edge of Wilkinson’s.

The £700,000 pedestrian area improvement scheme, designed by award winning design practice BDP, is being funded by Thornfield Properties, developers of the 1.6m sq ft Rock development. The works are vital to provide a good quality link between the existing town centre and the new shops and leisure venues currently under construction.

The need to link the main site of the new retail-led mixed use scheme, The Rock, to the main town centre shopping area was recognised at the early stages of the design process. It will be brought about by the closure of part of The Rock/Rochdale Road near Wilkinson’s, and the creation of a continuous pedestrianised area linking the new development with the rest of the town centre.

The improvement works will commence with a clearance operation to remove a majority of the existing trees, planters, benches, bins and other items of street furniture. Then, working in phases, the new paving and street furniture will be installed. The overall aim is to reduce street clutter, with new street furniture carefully positioned to reduce hazards to pedestrians.

Chris Stanton, Landscape Architect at BDP says: ‘The scheme aims to improve the overall streetscape character and organization of The Rock by reducing clutter and hazards. New coordinated street furniture and tree planting has been carefully arranged to improve pedestrian access and movement along The Rock.’

According to Mr Stanton, one of the major influences behind the design for the new area was to improve the layout and usability of the street for disabled members of the public and BDP had long consultations with BADDAC and even researched similar pedestrianised areas in Manchester with blind and partially sighted members of the public. ‘We went to the paving manufacturers’ factory and had BADDAC members select which paving scheme option was the clearest and easiest for them to interpret zones within. We then developed street furniture zones and ‘clear’ pedestrian zones within the different zones of the paving scheme,’ says Mr Stanton.

Main contractor Laing O’Rourke’s Community Liaison Officer Ali Valentine explains: ‘We will be taking every care to reduce the impact this vital work has on trade in Bury town centre. Secure fencing will separate members of the public from work being carried out at all times. Work will be carried out in sections, one business per side at a time, and any work to the thresholds of businesses with a single entrance will be conducted out of opening hours. We are liaising with local businesses that may be affected and I will be on hand throughout the project as a point of contact for anyone who would like to find out more.’

Peter Warden, Associate Director at Thornfield Properties says: ‘While there will be some inevitable disruption, Laing O’Rourke has planned it in such a way as to minimise inconvenience for local businesses and shoppers. The end result will be worth it, with a modern, clutter-free and well lit pedestrianised area, linking Millgate shopping centre to The Rock.’

Councillor Dorothy Gunther, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “These works will make a huge difference to the environment and improve what is currently a tired looking section of the town centre. These improvements will see new trees and street furniture installed and will create a link between the heart of Bury town centre and the new Rock Development”.

Lisa Durkin, Town Centre Manager, said: “These works signify the start of what will be a really exciting time for Bury town centre in the run up to the opening of the new Rock development. I hope that the careful planning which has gone into this project will ensure that disruption to town centre businesses and shoppers is kept to an absolute minimum”.

The public realm improvements will be carried out in phases.
Phase One: February – September 2009
• Work to remove old signage, benches, trees and planters from the central area
• Fencing will ensure debris remains within designated parameters
• Regular breaks in fenced off areas to ensure pedestrians can cross The Rock
• Installation of new paving and street furniture on the section of The Rock from Millgate / Mothercare down to Tithebarn Street.

Phase Two: September 2009 – June 2010
Work on the section from Tithebarn Street to Wilkinsons

The public realm works will comprise of:
• Adding the new public realm improvements
• Paving in two shades of grey with pedestrian zone clearly designated
• Stainless steel and light grey fittings to co-ordinate colours
• Lighting: elegant, arching feature columns
• Benches: timber slat seating on stainless steel base; some with back and arm rests, some without, to facilitate different users
• New bins
• All street furniture clustered to reduce hazards to pedestrians and creating a clear walkway.
• Trees in planters at intervals down the Rock.
• Cycle Racks at strategic arrival points to ensure people park bicycles and then walk through pedestrianised area
• Signage designed to integrate existing town with new scheme to link the whole town