Issues and SWOT

strength

Build around the market that already serves Radcliffe

The council says Radcliffe Market and neighbouring businesses are trading during the hub works.

Proposed response: Keep a clear map of open businesses and entrances.

Evidence

strength

Make room for homes people can afford

Average private rent is £969 a month (August 2026) in Bury council area. This is £490 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 9.6% in North Manor to 26.9% in Bury East — a gap of 17.3 percentage points.

Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.

weakness

A construction milestone is not an available service

The hub update shows fitting-out, not a confirmed opening.

Proposed response: Publish which services are available elsewhere during works.

Evidence

weakness

Bring support closer to people in poor health

5.6% of people reported bad or very bad health in Bury council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 4.1% in North Manor to 7.6% in Moorside — a gap of 3.5 percentage points.

This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.

opportunity

Track the affordable homes separately

School Street includes an identified affordable housing element.

Proposed response: Explain the tenure and application route for those homes.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

18.3% of people in Bury council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 12% in Bury East to 29.3% in North Manor — a gap of 17.3 percentage points.

Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.

opportunity

Connect local skills to local opportunities

32.3% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Bury council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 12.6% in North Manor to 27.3% in Bury East — a gap of 14.7 percentage points.

Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.

opportunity

Turn published plans into visible progress

3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.

A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.

opportunity

Target support where disadvantages overlap

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 10.4% in North Manor to 29.7% in Bury East — a gap of 19.3 percentage points.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

threat

Make late project costs visible

Prestwich’s travel hub required extra capital for late requirements.

Proposed response: Publish the revised total and what the extra funding buys.

Evidence