A UK town is set to be transformed as 6,000 homes, three new schools and a tram stop have been given the green light. The development in Bury, Greater Manchester, will increase the number of houses in the area by 10%. But the projects in Elton Reservoir, Walshaw and Simister and Bowlee need to go through public consultation and planning permission before they can go ahead, despite being approved by councillors.

Residents will be able to have their say on the plans over a six-week period. The leader of Bury Council, Eamon O'Brien, cautioned against unconstrained building, adding that construction must benefit locals. He said during a Cabinet meeting: "Despite the big disagreements we've had about this, we do all fundamentally agree that development must work in the interest of the borough, it must be right for our residents. What we must not do is allow uncontrolled development, a sort of piecemeal free-for-all in the interest of developers.

"This is about making sure this doesn't happen."

Councillor Charlotte Morris added, Express sister site Manchester Evening News (MEN) reported: "This is no longer about whether we do it, but how we do it.

"No plan doesn't mean no development. It just means we, as a council, have less say on how that development happens."

3,250 new buildings are planned at Elton Reservoir, the largest development.

Bosses say it would still provide a vital home for wildlife.

The new Star Radcliffe Academy secondary school, due to be completed by summer 2026, is nearby.

There will also be a new Metrolink stop.

The Walshaw plot between Walshaw Village and Woolford, could be transformed from agricultural land into 1,250 homes.

Around 300 of these would be classed as "affordable" - and offered at a price below the market value.

At Simister and Bowlee there would be 1,550 new houses and a primary school.

1,350 of the properties would be located in Bury, while 200 would fall on the Rochdale side.