Work set to start on key Bolton Central Street regeneration site

Another of Bolton Council’s key regeneration sites is beginning to take shape.

Work is set to begin on land at Central Street to build 150 new town centre homes following the completion of demolition works.

After securing Brownfield Housing Land funding, the site has now been cleared by Forshaw Demolition ahead of work by build-to-rent provider Placefirst to deliver homes, commercial units, and pedestrian-priority spaces.

Council leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Adele Warren, and Placefirst’s development director, Darran Lawless, recently visited Central Street where a major development scheme is gathering momentum.

Central Street will form part of the wider Croal Valley intervention area which will provide a mixture of riverside housing and green space alongside a reanimated River Croal.

The broader scheme will also provide a scenic active travel link between Queens Park and the town centre.

It is one of six key intervention areas in the Bolton town centre masterplan, with the council establishing a £100m fund to attract private sector investment.

The land at Central Street, including the shops and car park is owned by Bolton Council after it was acquired during 2018 and 2019.

Cllr Cox said: “There is visible progress being made at regeneration sites across the town centre and it was great to visit Central Street to see the work first hand.

“A key part of our masterplan is redeveloping brownfield land and making the town centre a vibrant and attractive place to live.

“I look forward to watching the progress both at Central Street and at other sites in the weeks and months to come.”

Cllr Warren said: “Not only will this development provide much needed homes to meet growing demand, but the Croal Valley intervention area will also create green space and boost active travel.

“Along with last week’s news about the Bolton College of Medical Sciences and securing Greater Manchester Brownfield Housing funding for Farnworth, there is real momentum behind regeneration projects right across the borough.”

Darran Lawless said: “We’re excited to be involved in this transformational development with Bolton Council, to deliver new high quality homes for rent in the town centre.

“Regeneration of this former brownfield site is another example of our dedication to placemaking and creating thriving neighbourhoods where people want to live.”

He added: “Visiting the site to see the progress the teams have made has been fantastic. We look forward to the progression of this project, and the boost it will provide to the local economy.”