A project that hopes to breathe new life into Farnworth town centre has officially started.
Farnworth Green, which is scheduled to be completed by August 2024, will reboot an area that has been somewhat forgotten for many years.
Demolition of former retail units in the Farnworth Market Precinct on Blackley Street will be completed early in the new year.
In their wake will sprout a community focussed, 20,000 square foot space including 85 one and two bed apartments, 12 two and three bed family homes, bars, cafes, and shops, a community hub, and a public square with plenty of green space.
Members of the public, councillors, and business leaders packed themselves into one of those soon-to-be demolished units as leader of the council Cllr Martyn Cox welcomed the ignition of the project.
“It’s only the start,” he said. “We’re not declaring victory just yet, but today is a great day.”
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He added: “Everybody knows we’ve got ambitions to regenerate Bolton’s centre, but perhaps less well known is our ambitions for our district centres.
“I think this will prove a catalyst. If we can make a success of Farnworth, I think that bodes well for other district centres.”
It is hoped that the completed project will give those in Farnworth a place to relax, enjoy and be proud of, while creating an inviting place for people from outside to come and spend their time and money – boosting the local economy and future proofing the town.
Cabinet member for regeneration Cllr Adele Warren said: “A good town centre encourages people to stay and spend their money.
“It’s important to develop and create spaces that will stand the test of time.
“Farnworth isn’t completely broken. It’s got good bones.
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“It has a large population and good footfall, so it’s the ideal place for a project like this, and hopefully this can be rolled out to other places.”
The Farnworth Green has been labelled as a key levelling up project.
It is backed by the Government’s Future High Street Fund, Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund and Bolton Council’s District Centres Fund.
Cllr Cox says that Government funding was “essential” in getting the ball rolling.
“Governments can provide funding, which provides the seed growth – people can see something happening and then they want to get involved,” he said.
“If you said to somebody in the private sector, ‘we need you to do the big initial investment’, they’ll say it’s too risky. So sometimes it does require a bit of Government support to get something moving.”
Developers Capital&Central have a track record of successful similar projects, including Kampus in central Manchester.
Development director Scott Mallinson says that the social impacts Farnworth will enjoy from the project are twofold.
He said: “In the short term, during the construction, we’re encouraging the contractor we’re going to use to invest locally, to employ locally wherever possible. During the build, that helps everybody.
“There’s also the long-term aspect – a series of new shop, 97 new apartments and houses so maybe 200 people who will invest locally, spend locally, and hopefully live and work in this area.
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“All of that added together has a massive social impact.”
Farnworth councillor Paul Sanders says that a “rough guesstimate” of £40m is being spent on the project on a site that has been neglected.
He added: “The four years that myself and my party have been involved in this have really come to fruition today.
“The wider town of Farnworth and Kearsley do need the attention that we’re afforded now.
“This particular project on the precinct is catalytic scheme that will kick start, I’m sure, for Farnworth and Kearsley.”
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18
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