An A320 returned to the departure airport after grinding noises were heard upon gear retraction; accompanied by ECAM LGCIU and BSCU failure warnings.

Narrative

First Officer [pilot flying] takeoff [was] normal until gear retraction. [We] heard unusual grinding sound from nose gear area; presumably; followed by multiple ECAM messages to include both LGCIU (Landing Gear Control Interface Unit) failures and BSCU 1 failure followed by numerous related failures. Gear did not initially indicate up and locked. Gear handle was left in the retract position and within 15 seconds indicated up and locked and the LGCIU failure ECAM went away. BSCU 1 fault remained until flight termination. Left the plane in the flaps 2 takeoff position and reported to Tower that we had a problem. We turned west per ATC and then turned north to a downwind for the runway. Contacted Dispatch and communicated our situation to Maintenance Control. We kept them on line and extended the gear which extended normally. We did not declare an emergency but the equipment was rolled for our landing. We requested Tower to observe our landing gear as well as possible with binoculars and they did not see anything unusual so we made a visual approach and uneventful landing. Am unaware at this time what the problem was but our decision to return appears to have been the correct choice.