BURY Hospice has unveiled plans to move out of Radcliffe and build a new £5 million state-of-the-art base in Bury.

The centre has outgrown its current site in Dumers Lane and needs more space for a bigger and better equipped hospice.

It is in the process of buying the site of the former St Bede’s Church, in Rochdale Old Road.

The larger grounds will allow the hospice to expand from five to 10 in-patient beds and improve its services. A capital appeal is now being launched by the hospice to pay for the £5 million building.

It already has a development fund of £2.5 million, made up of savings and two large legacies.

A series of fundraising events will be held and members of the public will be asked to make donations to reach the target.

It is hoped that £600,000 will come from a grant from the Department of Health, but planning permission for the new building must be granted before the end of March for the hospice to qualify.

Elizabeth Houghton, hospice chief executive, said: “We welcome all support. Every donation will make a huge difference.”

The hospice has been based in Dumers Lane since it was built in 1991.

Several extensions have been built on the site over the years, but there is not enough space for the hospice to grow further.

The new hospice building will have 10 large, fully-equipped in-patient rooms, each with ensuite facilities and access to its own terrace landscaped garden.

The rooms will provide enough space for specialist equipment, such as large wheelchairs.

There will also be visitor accommodation, therapy and consultation rooms, increased catering and training facilities.

Outside the building will be landscaped gardens, a lake, and a number of quiet areas. A planning application will be submitted to Bury Council by the end of the month and, if approved, work will begin in April.

It is hoped the building will be ready for the first patients to be treated there before the end of 2011.

A series of public consultation events will be held to find out what people think about the plans.

They will take place from 6pm to 8pm next Wednesday at Fairfield Primary School, in Rochdale Old Road, and from 10am to noon on Saturday, December 12 at the Mill Gate shopping centre.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the building fund can contact 0161 797 1748.

Michael Garrity, hospice chairman, said: “A new hospice will enable us to provide extended services and provide a fresh opportunity for our health service partners to work with us.”

Ivan Lewis, MP for Bury South, said: “I have had personal experience of the hospice’s caring service and wholeheartedly support these proposals.

“This investment would also help to regenerate a run-down site and create a flagship building.”