Today, on the 18th of March, the cabinet of Bolton Council has agreed to the provisional sale of the land at the Church Wharf development site.
According to the plans, local developer Watson Homes will be responsible for building 417 homes and a 120-bed hotel in three different phases of construction.
Before proceeding with the project, the developer must first obtain planning permission and secure appropriate funding.
If all goes as planned, work on the development could begin in 2025, with the final completion expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
Situated near the Parish Church, Church Wharf is in a prime riverside location and serves as a key entrance to the town centre.
This area is one of six designated intervention zones outlined in Bolton Council’s regeneration masterplan for the town centre.
To make way for the development, Bolton Council has already acquired several properties on Bank Street and Manor Street, carrying out full demolition and preparatory works.
The council’s involvement has successfully revitalised a once neglected site, turning it into an attractive investment opportunity with great potential.
Despite setbacks due to COVID and escalating construction costs, the groundwork laid by the council has kept Church Wharf an appealing prospect for investment.
Watson Homes was chosen from a pool of five interested developers, with selection criteria focusing on deliverability, sustainability, and social impact of their proposals.
The project is receiving support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Brownfield Housing Fund.
Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, commented, “A conditional sale like this ensures timely progress while also ensuring the final development meets the needs of our town centre.”
“The addition of more residents will attract new businesses to Bolton, enhancing the town’s hospitality, leisure, and retail offerings,” he added.
Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, emphasised the positive impact of the council’s intervention in transforming a neglected site into a promising investment opportunity.
“This project is a testament to our town centre regeneration plan, providing much-needed housing on previously unused land while safeguarding our Green Belt from future residential development,” he stated.
Projects like these, along with recent developments at Crompton Place, are expected to instil confidence in other investors and spur further regeneration efforts in Bolton.
