More progress at former Riverside High School housing site

The new 90-home estate, at the old Riverside High School on School Street, was approved in 2023 and is being delivered by North West housebuilder Hive Homes in partnership with Bury Council.

The project is part of wider regeneration plans for the area and for the brownfield site.

In 2022, Bury Council secured £882,000 in Brownfield Housing Funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to carry out essential remedial works that enabled the housing scheme to progress.

The scheme will deliver 90 homes in total, including 22 affordable properties and 68 for open market sale.

The launch was marked with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony last December, when some show homes were unveiled.

The estate was also given the official name of Scholar’s Park, in recognition of the former school.

Last month, an update was submitted to Bury Council’s planning portal, where the developers signed off on the completed construction of 57 new homes.

This included plots 3-5, 6-30, 31-49, and 50-59, with site inspector Kieran Dexter saying of the homes: "I confirm that I have inspected the works carried out and am satisfied that the condition and scope of works ordered has been executed in accordance with our sub-contract order and specification."

The comments were part of a request to discharge planning conditions on the application, specifically around the site verification of the 57 plots.

Now developers have confirmed more work has been completed on the development, with electric vehicle charging points installed alongside car parking for 65 of the 90 properties.

These are plots 1-20 and 44-88.

The electric vehicle charging point installed outside one of the homes. (Image: Bury Council)

The latest discharge of conditions application will be reviewed by Bury Council planners at a later date.

The project comes as part of a wider regeneration in Radcliffe following the clearance of the old school site in 2015.

This includes the new high school and the Radcliffe Hub, both scheduled to open in 2026.

Scholar’s Park will feature a mix of three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes designed for families and individuals.

Through a Section 106 agreement, which requires developers to contribute to local infrastructure, Hive Homes will provide £246,000 for improvements to nearby community facilities.

These include the Abden Street play area, the Cams Lane athletics track, the Close Park football facilities, the Outwood football facilities, the Radcliffe Cemetery, and the Radcliffe Pocket Park.

Speaking last December, Ed Milner, managing director of Hive Homes, said: "We’re proud to play a part in Radcliffe’s regeneration by delivering high-quality homes that meet the needs of local families.

"Scholar’s Park is a great example of how collaboration between developers and local authorities can transform unused land into a vibrant community.

"We look forward to welcoming more residents to their new homes in 2026."

A Bury Council statement from December added: "This development is a key part of Radcliffe’s ongoing regeneration, transforming a disused brownfield site into attractive, affordable homes for local families.

"With the new high school and Radcliffe Hub set to open in 2026, alongside a range of other improvements across the town, Radcliffe is fast becoming an even better place for families to put down roots and thrive."