Inside Botany Bay, the century-old mill which became mecca for Mancunian family days out as it undergoes huge redevelopment

It is a building which holds memories for many Mancunians. Whether heading there for a day out, or driving past it on the way to Blackpool, Botany Bay is a venue that is immediately recognisable.

During various different incarnations the five-storey mill, which dates back to 1885, was best known as a shopping centre, complete with the Puddletown Pirates children's play area, also featuring a garden centre, café and restaurant. It opened as a shopping centre in 1995 and became much loved for family day outs before closing in 2019.

It is currently used as office space, with a multi-billion pound international firm using the mill as its headquarters, and has therefore been closed off to the general public. But huge changes are afoot at the mill, just off the M61 in Chorley, with people set to be able to return to the memorable building, Lancs Live reports.

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As part of a redevelopment of the site, start up offices and rentable storage units will be spread over four floors. A huge business park is also currently being built on the surrounding land, which will likely house firms working in the industrial, commercial and logistics sectors.

The site will also feature retail businesses, including a drive through coffee shop. A new podium building will also be built next to, and connecting to, the mill to offer staff car parking, sports pitches and function space. A helipad is also included within the plan.

Huge sums of money are being invested into the plans by owners FI Real Estate Management Ltd (FIREM) - which is owned by Leyland born self-made millionaire Tim Knowles. The top floor of Botany Bay is currently used as an event