Residents move in as town centre masterplan takes shape

A new housing development near Queens Park is the first of many exciting regeneration projects set to be delivered in Bolton town centre.

A disused car park and brownfield site has been transformed into a 118-home estate at Chorley Street, now welcoming its first residents.

It comes as progress is made on other schemes, as part of Bolton Council’s masterplan to make the town centre a more vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit.

The new homes at Chorley Street are built to high environmental specification, highlighting Bolton’s commitment to meeting the goals set out in the Climate Strategy.

The estate is designed around low car usage and includes a flood attenuation system which reduces flood risk by capturing rainwater and releasing it slowly.

Similar to other developments under way in the town centre, the project offers improved pedestrian and cycling links to the River Croal and Queens Park to boost active travel.

The new homes also meet a growing demand for affordable housing in the borough, while building on brownfield land helps protect valuable green space.

The scheme has been delivered by Bolton at Home and Irwell Valley Homes working with contractors Watson Homes and with the support of Bolton Council.

It received grant funding from Homes England and all the homes are available to buy through the Government’s shared ownership scheme, designed to help people onto the property ladder.

Claire Griffiths, executive director of growth, development and assets at Irwell Valley Homes said: “This development offers something for everyone, responding to the diverse need for affordable homes to rent and to buy in Bolton, as well as the growing demand for specialist housing for older people.”

Jon Lord, chief executive at Bolton at Home, said: “We’re happy to see new tenants moving into new homes and we’re continuing to identify appropriate development sites. We need to provide more properties to give more people a warm, comfortable and sustainable home for them and their family to live in.”

Chorley Street is just one of several town centre regeneration projects delivering new homes in the heart of the town centre.

Work is well under way to create 150 homes on land at Central Street in the Croal Valley intervention area and at Manor Street as part of the wider Church Wharf development.

Last month, planning permission was granted to 208 new homes on the former site of the bus station on Moor Lane.

Bolton Council leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “The council’s masterplan for Bolton Town Centre continues to deliver by converting empty brownfield sites into quality homes for local people.

“Visitors to the town centre will have seen several regeneration projects already in progress, with more planned for 2022.

“I am especially pleased about the positive environmental impact this development is having.”

He added: “Earlier this year we worked with our key partners to develop a climate change strategy and this shows how we are all pulling together to make our borough cleaner and greener.”