The redevelopment of Crompton Place is back on the cards as early as this year after the authorities came to an agreement with Marks & Spencer to surrender its lease.

Bolton Council acquired the shopping centre in 2018 and acquired planning permission in 2020 before it ran into several setbacks which saw the scheme stall.

Into 2024, there remained a number of obstacles to the redevelopment but, with Bolton Library returning to the Central Library last month, and with Primark switching Crompton Place for Market Place between the end of this year and the start of next year, the biggest barrier became M&S.

The Deansgate department store closed almost a year ago but it continued to pay rent to the council and it retained access to the roof of the shopping centre using the bridge over Hotel Street as a result.

The Bolton News: Aerail picture of Bolton town centre showing Crompton Place.

The lease is for another three years but a report released today, Friday, revealed the authorities came to an agreement with M&S to surrender its lease and it is up for approval by the cabinet on March 4.

If approved it allows the council to re-apply for planning permission this year and to start work as soon as Primark leaves whether this year or next year.

The council remains in talks with the businesses on the site, including Boots and Poundland, to relocate to elsewhere in the town centre, and with developers to take on the mixed-use development.

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Nick Peel said: "The redevelopment of Crompton Place is a once-in-a-generation opportunity at the heart of the regeneration of our town centre and I am sure everyone will join me in welcoming this update.

"If agreed this will present us with an opportunity to replace an underused and unappealing building with something everyone in Bolton can be proud of."

The Bolton News: A CGI from the approval of planning permission in 2020

The aim of the scheme remains the same as in 2018 in terms of creating walking routes between Bradshawgate and Victoria Square east to west and Deansgate and Mawdsley Street north to south, and in terms of creating a mixed-use development in the area around these walking routes.

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Cllr Peel said: "This is our flagship redevelopment project, signalling to the private sector that Bolton Council is serious about regeneration and thereby attracting even more commercial investment."

The council said there is to be a public consultation followed by progress updates on the site.

The agreement with M&S to surrender its lease is up for approval by the cabinet on March 4.

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