Bolton announces plans for £27.5m build-to-rent urban village

Bolton’s Central Street car park is set to be transformed into the town’s first build-to-rent urban village as part of Bolton council’s £1.2bn town centre masterplan.

The £27.5m development, proposed by the build-to-rent developer Placefirst, will see a mix of around 200 houses and apartments designed around a network of pedestrian streets, courtyards and resident gardens.

Alongside its residential space, Placefirst’s proposals for Central Street include up to 15,000 sq.ft of Grade A office space, and several commercial units along Deansgate, Bolton’s main thoroughfare.

David Smith-Milne, managing director of Placefirst, said: ‘Bolton Council has set out an ambitious vision for the town centre and we are excited to be working with such a forward-thinking local authority.

‘We have developed our plans for Central Street with the wider town centre framework in mind and are confident our proposals will reflect that ambition.’

Placefirst intends to submit the planning application for the development, which may also include an outdoor art gallery, later this year.

Subject to approval, construction work will begin on site by early 2020 led by Placefirst’s in-house contractor Placefirst Construction.

The Central Street development forms part of the council’s £1.2bn town centre masterplan, which is being supported by private sector investors and developers.

The masterplan aims to bring forward regeneration schemes in five areas of the town: Croal Valley, Cheadle Square, Church Wharf, Crompton Place, and Trinity Quarter.

Deputy leader of Bolton Council and portfolio holder for regeneration, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: ‘The council’s £100m fund has triggered significant developer and investor confidence in Bolton, and it’s great to see another exciting residential scheme coming forward for our town centre masterplan.

‘We are delighted to be working with Placefirst on this regeneration opportunity, and the scheme will provide high-quality housing on a brownfield site.’

Speaking with NewStart last month, the chief executive of Bolton Council, Tony Oakman, said that the council’s masterplan aims to ‘tell the story of Bolton in a bolder way’.

Announcements made so far relating to the masterplan include £48m plans for Trinity Gateway and a planning application for a new £150m neighbourhood in Church Wharf.

The council has also confirmed in principle of £250m of private sector investment for the replacement of Crompton Place, after it purchased the shopping centre last June for £14.8m.