Dozens of firefighters from across Greater Manchester are currently tackling a major blaze at a landfill site in Bury this morning.
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that crews were called to a fire involving domestic waste at the Pilsworth Road site just after midnight, and urged people living and working nearby to keep windows and doors closed as firefighters battle the blaze.
The fire service took to Twitter to say that the situation is still “ongoing”, and there will be “disruption to the local area until it is resolved”.
Area Manager Ben Levy said that he was “very proud” of the work by firefighters at the scene as they “sustained efforts through the early hours of this morning have significantly reduced the impact of this fire.”
“The first crew on scene immediately assessed the situation and escalated the scale of the response.
“We now have 12 fire engines, plus off-road vehicles and the Scorpion special appliance from Salford fire station at the scene [and] the GMFRS drone unit is also in attendance supporting the operation by providing live aerial images to the incident commander and those in the Command Unit.
“The fire is approximately fifty metres by fifty metres and involves domestic waste.
“There’s a large amount of smoke in the area so please keep your windows and doors closed if you’re nearby.”
This incident is the second fire at the site this year.
The scene at the first major blaze at Viridor Recycling Centre back in April 2021 / Credit: GMFRS
Local residents may remember that back in April, firefighters declared a major incident after crews were called to a blaze at the Viridor Recycling Centre.
Dramatic drone footage of that fire showed it was “the size of a football pitch”.
Pilsworth Road in Bury is currently closed from junction three of the M66, to Moss Hall Road as crews work to extinguish the blaze.
A GMFRS spokesman said the blaze was “understandably causing disruption to the surrounding roads and will do so until the fire is extinguished”.
“Please avoid the area, keep your doors and windows closed if you’re nearby, and stay safe.”
Featured Image – GMFRS (April 2021)
News
‘Eyesore’ Northern Quarter car park to be redeveloped as ambitious new neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
An underused multi-storey car park in the heart of the city centre is set to be sold and redeveloped as an ‘ambitious’ new neighbourhood.
The ‘eyesore’ car park situated in Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter will be transformed into what Manchester City Council is hoping will become a green and sustainable neighbourhood set to complement the ‘unique and independent’ ethos of the area.
It comes after developers CBRE were appointed by the Council last year to market the Church Street site for disposal, ahead of seeking formal planning permission.
The new scheme will deliver more than 300 new homes – including 60 affordable homes – alongside new commercial opportunities and high-quality public spaces.
A before and proposed after of Church Street Car Park / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s expected that the development will respect the heritage and architecture of the historic city centre neighbourhood and help to enhance the wider area, all while improving a car park site that has long fallen out of favour.
The new neighbourhood will also feature four new public squares and green spaces, along with opportunities for pedestrianising the surrounding streets as part of the public realm.
As mentioned, commercial space is also part of the plans, as the ground floor of the building will offer a mix of smaller, more affordable units to ensure local independent businesses can access the neighbourhood, alongside units for food and beverage outlets.
“For too long, the Church Street car park has been an eyesore and a barrier to the ongoing success of the Northern Quarter,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“We want to bring forward a world-class development that has the potential to completely transform this part of the neighbourhood, together with the newest city centre public squares and green spaces.”
The final legal negotiations will conclude over the summer, and it’s expected that a public consultation will then take place to inform a future planning application.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
‘Major milestone’ as planning permission secured to transform Oldham town centre
Emily Sergeant
Planning permission has been granted for six transformational sites in Oldham town centre, with developers calling it a ‘major milestone’.
This approval marks a key step forward in Muse Places and Oldham Council‘s long-term partnership with a shared ambition to deliver a ‘vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable’ town centre that not only reflects Oldham’s heritage but also meets the needs of the people who live there.
Following ‘extensive consultation’ with the local community earlier this year, where hundreds of people took park and shared valuable feedback to help shape the proposals, a total of 1,619 new homes will be delivered as part of the plans, offering a mix of high-quality, energy-efficient apartments designed for families, older people, and young professionals.
The plans also include social and affordable housing provision too in a bid to help more local people find a home that suits their needs and circumstances.
According to the Council and developers, the approved plans will bring underused sites back into ‘productive’ use and support a ‘cleaner, greener’ future for Oldham, opening the door to new opportunities for local businesses and communities alike.
“This decision marks a key milestone in delivering on our promises for Oldham,” commented Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Council.
Planning permission has been secured to transform Oldham town centre / Credit: Muse Places
“Oldham Council and Muse have a shared, ambitious vision to create a quality place that people genuinely want to spend time in.
“I am thrilled that we can continue moving forward with our plans, delivering high-quality homes, including the provision of social and affordable homes to meet local needs. We will also support local businesses and create opportunities for everyone, as part of a clean, green and sustainable future.
“Together, we are creating a place that we can all be proud of.”
Site investigation works are now complete at the Civic Centre, and works at Prince’s Gate will begin shortly, followed by the former Magistrates’ Court later this year.
With planning consent secured and preparatory works underway, construction at Prince’s Gate is expected to begin this autumn.
The Manc -
14th October 2021 
