Plans to bring 148 new homes to a brownfield site next to the town centre have been given the green light.

The project, at Pyramid Park, will create a mixed housing scheme primarily aimed at younger adults and young professionals, small families and older people.

The 7.4-acre site was a former railway goods yard and sidings.

Located between Market Street and Knowsley Street, the site is ideally situated for access to the town centre and public transport via the nearby Bury Interchange.

Public transport connectivity for this site will be further enhanced through provision of a new step-free access to Metrolink as part of the proposed redevelopment of Bury Interchange by Transport for Greater Manchester.

The council has just been awarded £1.7 million from the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund to remediate the site, provide a new access road and prepare it for redevelopment.

This is in addition to the investment already secured by Bury Council as part of accelerating council owned brownfield housing sites.

Cllr Clare Cummins, cabinet member for housing services, said: “There are high levels of need for housing in the town centre, and this is an excellent location, with access to facilities and amenities.

“It will provide apartments and houses, with a percentage of them affordable, for younger adults. It’s further evidence of our commitment to bring brownfield sites back into use for housing.”

Work on the Pyramid Park scheme will begin in spring next year subject to planning approval.

The council has won £9.4m of capital funding and £290k in revenue funding to prepare brownfield sites for development – creating 1,572 homes.

Council owned sites:

Wheatfields: 30 affordable homes comprising four houses, six bungalows and cottage flats (affordable rent/capped at Local Housing Allowance rates), and 14 shared ownership houses.

Fletcher Fold: 40 social rented independent living apartments for older people including those with a learning disability and 4 Shared ownership bungalows for older people.

Seedfield: 84 homes, including 21 affordable homes (nine affordable rent, six first homes and six shared ownership)

School Street, Radcliffe: 90 homes including 22 affordable homes (six affordable rent, six first homes, 10 shared ownership)

Green Street, Radcliffe: 132 apartments (97 affordable)

Pyramid Park: 148 homes

East Lancashire Paper Mill, Radcliffe: 400 homes (100 affordable)

William Kemp Heaton: 43 affordable homes (all social rent) comprising eight bungalows, seven houses, 10 cottage flats and 18 supported apartments for people with a learning disability and/or autism.

Willow Street: 13 self-contained apartments for adults with a physical and/or sensory disability or learning disability.

Prestwich Village: 200 homes

Humphrey House: 65 apartments

Town Centre Sheltered Housing Scheme: 30 units

The Elms: 30 units

Town Centre specialist accommodation: 30 units

The council has also supported successful bids on privately owned sites:

East Lancashire Paper Mill – Island site: 27 100 per cent affordable units

York Street: 210 homes