Decision made on rebuilding homes destroyed by massive gas explosion

Friday, 28 November 2025 15:42

By Chris Gee

Three terraced houses destroyed in a huge gas explosion are to be rebuilt ‘like-for-like’. The homes, on Nelson Street in the Fishpool area of Bury were at the centre of a major blast at around 11am on February 28, 2024.

The explosion and subsequent fire led to a massive response by emergency services. A woman in her 70s was taken to hospital with injuries. A huge cordon put in place and a number of nearby homes and a school were evacuated.

The front of one house involved was blown out by the blast, its windows blown out and most of the roof collapsed. The affected homes, an end terrace house and the two adjacent properties, were later largely demolished.

Plans submitted by developers Gateley Smithers Purslow to rebuild the homes have been approved this week by Bury Council. A planning officer report for No 106, Nelson Street, said: “The site comprises a terrace of 11 dwellings, which contain two or three bedrooms and are constructed from red brick with a slate roof.

“Three of the properties at the end of the row were damaged by an explosion in 2024. “Following the explosion, the site was cleared and a hoarding erected around the site.”

No objections were made to the three houses being rebuilt. The new homes will have no off-street parking, but the council said there was none provided before and so it would not result in a worse situation.

A design and access statement in support of the application said: “The proposal seeks to reinstate the building back to its pre-destruction state in a like-for-like manner in terms of appearance, style, form, and size.

“The appearance of the proposed building has been designed to match the original pre-destruction building and to maintain the street scene of Nelson Street.”

At the time, the terrifying blast left residents fearing for their lives. One man said he thought his family were ‘going to die’, as residents described heroic locals trying to rescue the woman from the burning house amid the disastrous scenes.

Mushtaq Anwar, who was at home with his wife, his daughter, 21, and son, 17, at the time described the explosion as being ‘like an earthquake’.
He said: “All of the house was shaking and moving up and down.”

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

Michael Bamford named Man of Rochdale 2025 for outstanding community service

Michael Bamford, the founder of Re-Use Littleborough, has been named the Man of Rochdale 2025 in recognition of his tireless efforts to support those in need both locally and abroad.
Hundreds of new homes controversially approved for Littleborough

Hundreds of homes will be built on former green belt land in the heart of Littleborough.
Man arrested at Manchester Airport in Heaton Park synagogue terror probe

A seventh person has been arrested in connection with the deadly terrorist attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.
Teenage musician sets sights on top Manchester music college

BUDDING performer Isla Connell has been singing and playing instruments since primary school and is now hoping to land a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Heywood AODS honours retiring President after 40 years at the helm

Heywood Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society has paid tribute to its long-serving President, Keith Greenwood, during a surprise celebration marking his retirement after four decades of dedicated leadership.
Businesses warned of budget ‘moment of truth’ as tax fears mount

A senior insolvency expert has warned that businesses in Rochdale and across the UK are facing a pivotal week, with fears that the upcoming budget could unleash damaging tax hikes across multiple sectors.
Fire and light transform Rochdale as Christmas countdown begins

More than 10,000 people visit town hall for spectacular three-day festival and lights switch-on
Man arrested after pedestrian hit in serious collision in Bury town centre

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at a major junction in Bury town centre.
Mayor reflects on a busy first half-year of community, culture and commemoration

I am halfway through my mayoral year and it has been an inspiring and insightful six months. I have been to every part of the community, across our township areas of the Pennines, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, visiting businesses, schools, care settings, charities, voluntary organisations, seeing at first-hand what makes our borough the amazing place it is to live, work and grow up in.
Reform UK councillor backtracks after falsely claiming Roch Valley Radio insulted him

A Rochdale councillor has retracted a claim he made on social media, after attributing a critical remark to Roch Valley Radio without verifying the source.
Old bank to be transformed into church

The former RBS bank in Middleton will be converted into a new church.
Mum of two makes urgent plea for kidney donor as transplant options run out

A mother from Rochdale is appealing to the public to consider becoming a living kidney donor as she faces an increasingly desperate wait for a life-saving transplant.