WASTE land in Rochdale Road will receive a new lease of bright blue life as the council transforms it into shops and flats.

The land owned by Bury Council will see six new shops and 24 flats built in three and four storey blocks.

Most of the buildings are earmarked to be "cornflower blue" but the planning committee will approve materials at a later date.

Councillor Mary D'Albert said: "As it's the main road into Bury from the motorway it would be wonderful to improve the area."

One objection to the application calls the height and style "ridiculous".

The land used to be a pub and houses but these were demolished between 1994 and 2002.

Since then the land has been empty and used unofficially for parking.