THE former headquarters of a traffic management firm in Bury could be the site of a fresh jobs bonanza for the borough.

Property bosses have confirmed the sale of the Derby Works, in Manchester Road, to Rossendale based investment and development outfit B&E Boys.

The premises were home to Melba Swintex, a manufacturer of cones, signs and barriers for 60 years.

But that enterprise relocated to another location in Stubbins Vale Mill last September, pledging to expand its workforce still further.

Three years before it had already successfully secured planning permission to expand the Bury plant.

Managing director Paul Harrison told the Bury Times then that the company was looking to expand and had outgrown its longstanding home.

Their switch was cemented after negotiations with Invest in Rossendale, resulting in a number of jobs switching from Bury to East Lancashire.

But now it has emerged that the Derby Works site, which covers 71,446 square metres, is being marketed as a business hub for start-ups and fledgling firms, potentially generating a fresh wave of employment..

Paul Nolan, of property agents Nolan Redshaw, said: "There was strong demand for the property and we believe the purchaser is going to proceed with subdividing the premises and a full refurbishment scheme, making them available for further industrial occupiers to use.

"The property is adjacent to the A56 and is in an excellent location for access to Bury town centre, the M66 and Manchester city centre."

The agents understand that the new development will be known as the Connect 56 Business Hub and a planning application, for further alterations, is in the pipeline with Bury Council.

B&E Boys, based in Waterfoot, halfway between Rawtenstall and Bacup, has commercial, residential and industrial arms. The company already acts as letting agents for properties on the J2 business park at Heap Bridge and the former Bridge Inn in Bury New Road.