Representatives from Bolton Council, Bolton at Home and the developer received an update on the Moor Lane development on a visit to the site.

The development includes a total of 218 homes, a combination of apartments and of townhouses, of which 82 homes are described as 'affordable'.

Bolton Council took on the land from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) a number of a years ago and it came to an agreement with FSG Moor Lane Bolton Developments Ltd, a partnership between Bolton at Home and Step Places, to take on the land for the price paid to TfGM. Later it accepted an undervalue of more than a half a million pounds after a rise in costs put some of the homes at risk.

Recently, Bolton Council leader Nick Peel and deputy leader Akhtar Zaman received an update on the development on a visit to the site alongside Noel Sharpe and Dominic Conway from Bolton at Home and Harinder Dhaliwal from the developer. They saw the frames now in place and the brickwork already underway.

The Bolton News: From L to R: Harinder Dhaliwal, Nick Peel, Akhtar Zaman, Dominic Conway, Noel Sharpe

Cllr Zaman said: "It was great to see the work progressing so well, and with the frames now in place it is clear to see what a great addition Moor Lane will be to this part of town.

"I am particularly pleased many of these new homes will be affordable, giving families and individuals access to quality homes close to a wide range of outstanding amenities."

The Moor Lane development is a part of Cheadle Square, one of several so-called intervention areas in the regeneration of the town centre, as set out by the Bolton Town Centre Masterplan, of which other examples include Church Wharf, Crompton Place, Croal Valley and Trinity Square.

There are also a number of schemes outside these intervention areas, which are all at different stages, such as Bolton Library and the Wellsprings Building.

Cllr Peel said: "Taken on its own, Moor Lane is an exciting development that will bring much needed housing into a prime town centre location.

"But viewed alongside the other nearby projects we can see our wider vision for the town centre beginning to take shape with improved public areas, cultural spaces, and schemes to attract new businesses that will bring more jobs into the borough."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.