Bolton: Great Moor Street student block could be revived

The accommodation block on Great Moor Street was once intended to house 140 students in “world class facilities” before the scheme was abandoned in 2018.

This week, council deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman revealed this week prospective buyers hoped to get the proposal up and running again, but timings would be "to some degree in the hands of the courts".

Cllr Zaman said: “Their intention is to acquire the property, complete the development in accordance with the 2014 planning permission and use it for its approved use, accommodation for 140 students and commercial units at the ground floor.”

He added: “Given the circumstances there are inevitably some remaining challenges to overcome as the project involves matters such as administration and receivership.”

Work could be set to start on the block again (Image: Newsquest)

Building work on the seven-storey building began on derelict land near The Balmoral pub in Great Moor Street in 2016.

But by 2018 funding for the scheme ran out when developers Collateral folded and work came to an abrupt stop, leaving the site unfinished since then.

The development was meant to include 119 “pods” and 21 studio flats, as well as a gymnasium, reception area, communal kitchens, laundry rooms and landscaped gardens.

The council said in April 2019 that it was investigating why the work has stopped and what could be done about it.

Now, Cllr Zaman has said that he hopes to see work start up again soon.

He said: “In this regard the developer and the council are to some degree in the hands of the courts in terms of time scales.

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“However I believe this is a good news story and we are satisfied that the prospective new owners have the commitment to complete this development as they have been actively seeking to acquire the property for the last two years.”

He added: “We are also satisfied that they have the resources and the experience to achieve a positive outcome as they have a record of doing so both locally and nationally.”

Cllr Zaman was responding to a question put by Cllr Martin Donaghy, of Tonge with the Haulgh, about the state of the building.

He said: “The shame about it is that it’s a new building but its been open to the elements for some years now and I just hope something can be done with it and it's not been damaged beyond repair.”