Building’s owner ordered to sell up

Since August, 1994, developer Gordon Moon Properties has made 13 unsuccessful bids to buy a building at 62 Deansgate, currently occupied by the Early Learning Centre.

Bolton Council has now agreed to a request by the firm that it uses its Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to forcibly secure the building from owner Walter Freed.

The redevelopment scheme will see a 75,000 sq ft shopping and office development in an area bordered by Deansgate, Market Street, Corporation Street and Knowsley Street.

The blocks earmarked for demolition includes shops such as HM Samuel and Original Shoe Co. All units are owned by Gordon Moon, except the Early Learning Centre.

The development will be connected to Knowsley House - which will be extended and refurbished - at the end of Deansgate.

A Bolton Council report said Mr Freed, of London-based Deanton Properties, had rejected the developer's latest offer which was "significantly in excess of open market values".

Nigel Moon, of Gordon Moon Properties, said: "If the landowner appeals against the CPO and there is an inquiry, it could take between a year and 18 months. If we were able to buy the building tomorrow, it could take us between three and six months to get on site but we can't instruct our contractors until we tie it down.

"The council wants to see this happen and we want to see it happen because it would be of great benefit to Bolton.

"This is a poor area of the town with buildings that are well past their sell-by-date and this building is an integral part of the scheme.

"We have been very reasonable with the offers we have made to the owner."

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, the council's executive member for development, said: "CPOs are a last resort but the redevelopment of Knowsley House is a key piece of the jigsaw in the development of the town centre."

Deanton Properties and the Early Learning Centre declined to comment.