Plan for new convenience store in Bolton town centre

This comes after a plan was put forward to convert an empty space on Oxford Street next to the Post Office into a new convenience store.

The proposal comes at a time when the area’s representatives have been aiming to encourage more businesses to move into the town centre

Cllr Richard Silvester, of Queens Park and Central, said: “With the various redevelopments occurring in Bolton town centre, we are starting to see planning applications coming in like this one.

“I welcome this application for a convenience store because another empty building in a prime location will soon be occupied with a new business.

The building has been empty for several years (Image: Newsquest)

“I would like to see more convenience outlets in the town centre because the numbers of residents living within it will grow.

“That will also lead to more cafes and shops appearing as well over time.”

This comes with various other recent efforts having been made to reoccupy vacant buildings across the centre of Bolton in recent months.

In February this year a buyer was finally found for an empty student block on Great Moor Street that has been unoccupied since 2018.

It has been bought by EP Properties.

Just months later in April, plans were put forward to transform an empty former furniture shop on Corporation Street just in front of the Market Place shopping centre into flats.

On Oxford Street, the vacant store has previously been used as an office, having last been used by the Countrywide Estate Agents.

But it has been empty and unused for the last several years.

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A Bolton Council report said: “Google Street View further clarifies that the building was in use as an estate agent from at least 2016 until at least July 2018.

“The building appears to have been vacant since April 2019.”

The report said that a council officer confirmed that the store is still vacant after a site visit on Monday June 17 this year.

On Thursday, June 20 this year Bolton Council officers concluded that the proposed use of the building as a convenience store did not count as development and could therefore be approved.