Bolton Masterplan and the changes made in 2023

From major developments to record-breaking cultural events, 2023 has been a pivotal year in the ongoing work to revitalise and regenerate Bolton.

Across several key urban intervention areas, and the district centres across the borough, significant projects were completed, took major steps forward or were announced for 2024.

As part of the council’s masterplan, underused brownfield sites and derelict buildings have been acquired and cleared, paving the way for private developers to create a series of vibrant urban neighbourhoods.

The reimagined town centre will offer a mix of retail, residential, employment, hospitality and leisure offers to create places where people want to live, work and visit.

The year began in the grandest possible style with a visit from King Charles III in January.

The occasion marked 150 years of Bolton Town Hall, one of the borough’s most prized architectural treasures.

The King learned about Bolton’s unique cultural and heritage assets, which form a key part of plans to attract more visitors to the borough and create a more vibrant town centre.

In February, attention turned to another part of town, as demolition work at Church Wharf began its final stages.

It followed years of complex work on the brownfield site to acquire underused property and prepare the land for future development.

An announcement about the future of the desirable riverside locations will be made in 2024.

Later that same month, renowned developers Capital&Centric unveiled plans for Neighbourhood Bolton, a series of suburban style townhouses across 6.2 acres of land around Bradshawgate.

This was followed by a planning application for the development in May.

The spotlight was on the borough’s regeneration plans in March as the council hosted the Invest in Bolton event.

Delegates heard from industry leaders, regeneration experts and the developers helping to build Bolton’s future.

Research by Deloitte, published ahead of the event, projects that the council’s masterplan will deliver more than 4,000 new jobs, over 2,000 new homes and £565m of gross development value by 2040.

Among those taking advantage of the exciting opportunities in the borough are developer-investors Andy Shaw and Paul Molyneux, of Bishops Rock Properties Ltd.

In March, they showcased two buildings flanking Capital&Centric’s ongoing Farnworth Green development on the demolished site of the town’s old precinct building.

The pair acquired and renovated both the former RBS bank and the Job Centre on King Street, creating a new nursery, premium office space and a safe deposit centre.

Andy said: “We both really believe in Farnworth, it is one of the hidden gems that Bolton has to offer.”

In April, Primark announced plans to relocate its Bolton store in the Market Place Shopping Centre in a major step towards consolidating the town’s retail offer.

By focusing shopping in the Market Place, it frees up other areas of town for residential, leisure and hospitality developments that will deliver the right mix that modern town centres need.

May saw the creation of a new Executive Cabinet Member for Culture role, reflecting a renewed emphasis on the importance of Bolton’s cultural offer and how it will support investment and regeneration activity across the borough.

Accepting the role, Cllr Nadeem Ayub said: “I want culture to be the heartbeat of our town and I want people of Bolton and beyond to come here to enjoy the arts, films, music, dance, theatre, museums, libraries, and galleries.”

This point was clear when Bolton took centre stage at the UK’s biggest investment and regeneration conference that same month.

The annual UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum brings together the public sector, developers, and investors to discuss opportunities for regeneration and economic growth.

Bolton stood out this year by hosting “Breakfast with Simon Wood” where influential guests enjoyed a word-class meal while learning how the borough’s bricks-and-mortar regeneration is backed up key strategies on culture, the visitor economy and events like the award-winning Food and Drink Festival.

In June the Mayor of Bolton cut the ribbon to officially open the newly refurbished Farnworth Leisure Centre, funded by the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The reimagined facility includes an extended gym and a new dance studio and was developed following consultation and feedback from local residents.

July saw work start to transform the Wellspring office building into a £11.18m modern, flexible workspace for digital and creative start-ups.

The transformation of the council-owned building is being funded by £6.9m from the Government’s Towns Fund and £1.4m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “The way people work is changing, and the renovated Wellsprings will provide the new and innovative mixed-use space that modern businesses need.

“We want to incubate new start-ups to create a community of businesses that can exchange ideas, build networks, create opportunities, and build on each other’s success.”

The same month, work on the nearby Central Street development reached a crucial phase as the foundations were laid.

Award-winning build-to-rent developer Placefirst is leading on the £35m project to create 167 new high-quality homes for rent.

While on site Cllr Peel also heard how Placefirst, and the wider regeneration work across the borough, is creating job and skills opportunities for local people.

August saw more progress as the structural frames and brickwork were added at the Moor Lane development from Step Places, in partnership with the council and Bolton at Home.

The completed project will feature 218 apartments and townhouses, including 82 affordable homes on brownfield land formerly occupied by the bus station.

At the end of the month, the annual Bolton Food and Drink Festival broke all attendance records as half a million visitors descended on the town to enjoy free entertainment, great food, and celebrity chef demonstrations.

Food and Drink Festival

The festival would later be named “Most Loved Live Event” at the 2023 I Love Manchester awards, overcoming Manchester International Festival, Manchester Pride, and many others.

The award confirmed Bolton’s status as a host of world-class cultural events that help create a vibrant and exciting atmosphere in the town centre.

Farnworth Green took another step forward in September with the arrival of a towering crane which signalled the next phase of Capital&Centric’s £24m development.

The new town centre neighbourhood will feature family homes alongside community facilities and spaces for independent businesses.

October marked exactly one year since 24,000 fans packed the then University of Bolton Stadium for England v France at the Rugby League World Cup.

Twelve months on and the sport has a lasting legacy in the borough with participation at unprecedented levels and Westhoughton Lions enjoying their new clubhouse thanks to a £300,000 grant from the tournament’s social impact programme.

In November, the council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman viewed progress on two key sites backed by the government’s town’s fund.

Elizabeth Park and the new food hall at Bolton Market are both due to open in early 2024.

Cllr Zaman said: “Both of these new facilities will be great assets for the growing number of town centre residents moving into Moor Lane and other development sites.”

That month, the council also provided an update on the fully refurbished Central Library which will also open its doors in early 2024.

The facility now includes an expanded children’s area, improved social spaces, updated digital facilities and a brand-new café.

Invest in Bolton

December saw Bolton selected as one of just 10 areas to secure a new government funding deal.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ new Simplification Pathfinder Pilot brings together different government funding pots and gives councils greater flexibility on how projects are managed, and how money is spent.

The month also saw Bolton town centre selected to benefit from Round Three of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The year ended as it started, with a focus on the town’s valuable historical heritage assets.

Both the Market Cross and the Cenotaph benefitted from valuable restoration work, highlighting the council’s commitment to celebrating Bolton’s proud past as it works to build a modern centre fit for the future.