A PROPOSED town centre housing development is trying to cram far too many households onto a limited site with too little green space, a civic trust has said.

Bolton and District Civic Trust also claim a proposed mixed development of 158 homes and commercial floorspace on Central Street, Bolton, would damage the heritage of the town centre.

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In a submission to Bolton Council opposing elements of the plans they say that the development would ‘sweep away and destroy most of the remaining buildings ‘of merit’ within the north west of the town centre’,  including Georgian buildings dating back to the late 1700s.

The application, from developers Central Street SPV Limited seeks consent to demolish buildings fronting Deansgate and to construct a new development of 158 new homes together with new commercial space on Deansgate.

The application also proposes new hard and soft landscaping, a public square, improvements to nearby roads and footpaths and improvements to the River Croal including a river walk.

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Richard Shirres, acting chair of Bolton & District Civic Trust, said: “At the very least, the four-storey warehouse at the corner of Ridgway Gates and Palatine Street deserves particular attention by the planning committee, to preserve the industrial heritage of the Central Street site.

“This is especially important given the significant loss to the town centre’s street scene of the buildings fronting Deansgate that will be swept away by this development.”

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Mr Shirres said that the development plans a lack of green space to an almost token level.

He added: “This is one of the key reasons why the proposal for 158 dwellings within a one hectare site is, despite its overall concept, unacceptable.

“This application is trying to cram far too many households onto a limited site, which is not helped by the context of it being enveloped at the heart of a town centre already bereft of any integrated green infrastructure.”

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The trust’s concluding remarks on the proposed development encouraged planners to reject it in its current form.

Mr Shirres, said: “The trust contend that this development will fall short in fulfilling the ambitions of Bolton Council’s goal to foster communities within the town centre.

“As proven by the pandemic, the health and well-being of communities requires ready access to green space.

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“Even within town centres and highly urbanised area, some provision of cultivatable green space is essential to promote interaction amongst residents and foster community spirit and sense of place.

“The trust considers that the application proposals in their current form should be refused but with encouragement for significant revision and re-application.”