Muse Development’s £150m proposals to transform the Church Wharf area of Bolton have today been approved by the Council’s Planning Committee.
Councillors granted planning permission for the scheme, which would create a new riverside neighbourhood in the heart of Bolton town centre. The approved planning application included a mix of up to 352 homes, a new hotel, commercial offices, and leisure and retail opportunities.
Church Wharf was approved following a period of consultation on the key benefits of the proposal early this year. The neighbourhood will provide new homes to Bolton town centre, create permanent employment opportunities and construction jobs, as well as delivering a significant boost to the local economy.
David Burkinshaw, Muse Developments, said: “This is a huge step forward in delivering a new neighbourhood at Church Wharf. With a focus on high quality design and architecture this gateway site will be transformed into a vibrant new area of the town.
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.
"The plans will provide around 350 new homes for young people, first-time buyers and families across Bolton and beyond, helping to breathe life into the town centre.
"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."
The decision has been welcomed by Bolton Council. Director of Place, Gerry Brough, added: “We’re one step closer to achieving our vision in our £1.2bn masterplan.
“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.
“Church Wharf is a key gateway into the town and of incredible strategic importance. Discussions will continue with landowners and businesses to enable this exciting development to go ahead as planned.”
Church Wharf is included in Bolton Council’s target intervention area within the ambitious Town Centre Strategy. It is a key gateway location to the north-east, which will transform and regenerate the area.
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.
The new neighbourhood at Church Wharf will deliver around 350 new homes, and complement the town centre with commercial space, bringing new employment opportunities.
The outline planning application also includes an emphasis on open space and landscape areas, which will conserve the distinctiveness and character of the new neighbourhood.
Initial demolition work is set to take place on the Church Wharf intervention site over the coming weeks. The Late Club and Club Ice building, which is owned by Bolton Council, will be demolished over a period of 16 weeks by specialists J Freeley Ltd.