Bolton town centre is set to receive a big cash boost for the town centre as part of the government’s town fund.

Bolton is set to receive £22.9 million from the government, announced in today’s budget from the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, all for the town centre.

The borough is also set to benefit from an £8.6 million Intra-City Transport settlement, a £150,000 Levelling-Up Fund and a £20,000 UK Community Renewal Fund.

Over £1 billion has been given to 45 towns across the country, as part of the government’s Towns Fund, which the government says “will help to level up regional towns, giving them the tools to design and implement a growth strategy for their area and aiding local recovery from the impacts of Covid-19.”

Bolton is one of only two places in Greater Manchester to receive this funding, along with Rochdale, and could fund four particular projects.

These include:

  • Improvement to Bolton Market, which would see the outdoor market refurbished, upgrades to the internal halls, and all the entrances to the building improved.
  • Redevelopment of Bolton Central Library, Museum and Archive, which would expand the Aquarium, modernise the libraries and introduce flexible workspaces for local businesses and groups.
  • Upgrade and refurbishment of the Wellsprings building to create an innovation hub for businesses in the creative and digital sector.
  • And a public realm project which would create a greener town centre, seeing footpaths and connections between key institutions improved, and new pocket parks and public spaces created.

Leader of Bolton Council, David Greenhalgh, said: "This announcement today is a testament to the faith that Conservatives in Bolton and nationally have in Bolton. 

"We have been working hard to secure funding, on top of previous awards, to make sure we regenerate Bolton and bring it into the 21st-century.

"For too long, other parties spoke of regeneration but we're making it happen. Our commitment to the people and towns of Bolton is 100 per cent. 

"We've already created local deals with the towns of Little Lever, Farnworth, Kearsley, Horwich, Blackrod and Westhoughton. 
"Now, thanks to the Towns Fund and the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, we can go even further."

Mark Logan, MP for Bolton North East, welcomed the funding, saying: "Bolton is on high thanks to this £23 million vote of confidence to reinvigorate our Town Centre. Bolton Council’s ambitious plans are ready to go.

"Along with Chris Green MP we are serious about Levelling-Up, and Rishi has matched the ambition with the necessary funding. The Chancellor’s plans strike the perfect balance between economic support and economic recovery, protecting jobs and livelihoods."

Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, said: "Going through these difficult times, I am glad to see that the Chancellor continues to focus on rebalancing the local economy by giving a £22.9 million boost to the Town’s Fund for Bolton.

"Cllr David Greenhalgh and our team leading Bolton Council have a huge ambition for revitalising our great town centre. 

"Working with Mark Logan MP, we have been campaigning for the Government to invest locally so I am delighted that the Chancellor has listened and is going to deliver."

Cllr Nick Peel, leader of the Bolton Labour group, said: "There are some disturbing rumours at the moment concerning the financial viability of many of the town centre schemes, putting a question mark over the deliverability of some of them. 

"As the last Labour Council set the ball rolling on town centres regeneration, then we are naturally very concerned about this.

"Town centres cash grant from the Government that helps bridge viability problems is welcome, but if this is the sum total of ‘levelling up’ the northern economy, then the council is in bigger trouble than it thought."