Bolton approves £185m Church Wharf and Croal Valley schemes

An artist’s impression of the £150m development on Church Wharf that has been approved by Bolton Council. Image credit: Bolton Council

Bolton council has granted full planning permission for two residential developments in its town centre which will cost a total of £185m.

Last week the council’s planning committee authorised permission for its new £150m development in Church Wharf and a £35m residential scheme in Croal Valley.

The two town centre developments are the first to be approved that are part of the council’s £1.2bn regeneration masterplan for the borough.

Bolton Council’s director of place, Gerry Brough, hailed the decisions, saying the council is now ‘one step closer’ to achieving the vision outlined in the masterplan.

He said: ‘Church Wharf is fundamental to the regeneration of Bolton town centre. This decision now paves the way for the finer details to be worked through.

“This scheme will unlock an underused piece of land, creating new housing, hundreds of jobs and bringing a mix of people back into the town centre.

‘[Croal Valley) will also bring much needed housing to a brownfield site in the heart of Bolton, bringing more people into our town and creating jobs which will help the local economy.’

The approved plans for Church Wharf will see a new riverside neighbourhood built in Bolton town centre featuring up to 352 homes, a hotel, office space, and leisure and retail opportunities.

The neighbourhood – which was proposed by Muse Developments – will have an emphasis on open space and landscape areas which will help to preserve the area’s existing character.

Croal Valley, meanwhile, will see the construction of 262 homes made up of a mixture of apartments and town houses.

This scheme will be overseen by Bolton-based company Forshaw and will feature fully equipped gymnasiums, private cinemas, residents’ lounges and a roof terrace.

David Burkinshaw of Muse Developments called the council’s announcement a ‘huge step forward’ in delivering Church Wharf.

He added: ‘We’re opening up access to the river, creating outdoor space for everyone to enjoy and an attractive place for people to live, work and relax.

‘Church Wharf is the first project of this scale to be brought forward under Bolton Council’s wider plan to regenerate the town centre, and today is undoubtedly a significant moment in delivering this exciting vision.”

Initial demolition work will take place at Church Wharf soon with a council-owned building currently on site set to demolished over a period of 16 weeks.

Over at Croal Valley, Forshaw said in a statement that it currently aims to start work on the site by the end of this year.

In addition to Church Wharf and Croal Valley, Bolton’s £1.2bn masterplan also aims to bring forward regeneration schemes in the Cheadle Square, Crompton Place and Trinity Quarter areas of the town.

Speaking with NewStart in February, 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’.