PLANS to “reimagine” Radcliffe are still deliverable despite the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus crisis, planning consultants have said.

Representatives from Deloitte who have drawn up new regeneration plans, which could shape the town for the next 15 years, have reassured residents that the plans it produced are not “prejudiced” by COVID-19.

Speaking at an online consultation event about the strategic regeneration framework, Deloitte LLP partner Simon Bedford defended its deliverability.

He said: “We have thought really carefully about this plan, particularly the plan in the core of the town centre.

“It is, in our view, something that can be delivered at a value-for-money cost.

“It isn’t something that’s pie in the sky, it isn’t something that we just sort of dreamt up.

“We don’t think these plans are prejudiced by COVID particularly, we think they were actually in line with some of the things and trends that we’re going to see moving forward.”

Bury Council’s director of regeneration and economic growth Paul Lakin told residents reducing the number of small retail units and attracting people to cafes and bars would help to “bring a bit more life into the town centre”.

The proposals in the framework include creating a new civic hub and new work spaces in the town centre with a “complete revamp” of its open space.

It also suggests repurposing the Market Chambers building and creating a “comprehensive” car parking strategy to reduce congestion in the town.

Improvements to riverside paths and viewing platforms would complement ongoing work to improve safety through new flooding defence schemes.

Mr Bedford added: “Radcliffe is the finest example of a riverside town in Greater Manchester – not something that people necessarily recognise.

“It sits on the River Irwell, and the river looks splendid in the summer as it actually moves through the town. But we don’t recognise that as something that’s unique and something of Radcliffe.

“Therefore it’s important that we do that. We make the town look and feel distinctive. A place where people can enjoy a healthy lifestyle and everybody that lives and works and visits the town should be able to do that.

“And frankly, not beating around the bush, the important bit about this piece of work is to make sure that over a shortish period of time, we reinvent the town centre.

“The town centre has become tired and jaded. It isn’t what it needs to be. It doesn’t reflect a modern and thriving town centre and we want to do something about that. It deserves to be something more than it is.

“And there is therefore a real focus in this piece of work on the core of the town centre, not only that, but that’s where we’re going to start.”

Radcliffe East councillor Rhyse Cathcart reaffirmed Bury Council’s commitment to the regeneration plans as well as its support for a new secondary school for which a bid is being considered by government.