Bolton Wanderers plans £100m mixed-use scheme

BOLTON Wanderers is planning a £100m sport, education and office development next to the Reebok Stadium.

The proposals, which have just gone out to public consultation, have been put forward by the club’s owner Burnden Leisure and the Bolton Arena Trust, which runs the arena on behlaf of Bolton Council which owns it.

The masterplan details 310,000 sq ft of commercial space, a news sports building linked to the arena, and a five-storey education building which could house a free school, new football pitches and the expansion of the stadium’s west stand.

Club chairman Phil Gartside said: “In 1996, the club’s then board had the vision to build the Reebok Stadium. Now we are seeking to add to that vision with the planned creation of a major regional sports and education centre and offices at Middlebrook.

“This would maximise the potential of the existing facilities and develop further complementary elements. Our scheme includes working closely with the Bolton Arena Trust to reconfigure the arena. This would lead to a new sports building and also an upgrade of the football pitches and other sporting facilities, which would bring further benefits and usage for the community.

“There are also plans to build a new education and welfare building at the arena, along with the expansion of the West Stand at the Reebok Stadium. This would see the provision of up to 29,000 sq m of commercial and office accommodation adjacent to the stadium.

“In addition, we will continue upgrading our facilities at the academy, including permanent changing rooms at Lostock. These are all very exciting proposals and we will be working with local residents and all parties involved in these plans, as, together, we seek to make them a reality.”