A £50 million revamp of part of Bury town centre could start next year.

The application for the new development, known as The Rock Triangle, is being drawn up by Leeds-based Thornfield Properties, in partnership with Bury Council.

If passed, the plan will see 15 acres of land around The Rock transformed into a massive retail, leisure and residential development.

The wedge of land between The Rock, Rochdale Road, Moorgate Retail Park and the First Bus depot has been earmarked for the development. Improvements are also planned for The Rock's pedestrianised area.

Mr Mark Finch, from Thornfield Properties, spoke to Bury West residents at their area board meeting on Monday and illustrated the proposed scheme with coloured artistic impressions, and overhead plans of the site. The illustrations are now on display at Bury Town Hall.

The site will comprise 10 blocks of buildings, to be divided into three zones: retail stores, restaurants, office space and residential areas in the first zone, a major food store in the second and larger retail outlets including furniture and electrical stores, with leisure facilities above, in the third zone.

And interest has already been shown by companies hoping to provide leisure facilities, such as a bowling alley, on the site.

The development will retain popular features, including the United Reformed Church, fitness centre, Minden Health Centre and the former cemetery.

At the meeting, Councillor Denise Bigg asked about car parking facilities, and whether they would be sufficient and suitable for the scheme.

But Mr Finch made assurances that the planned multi-storey and surface car parks will hold spaces for around 857 cars on the site.

The plans will be discussed in the near future, and Mr Finch said he hoped that they would come before Bury Council's planning committee before autumn, with construction hopefully starting in 2004.