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  4. Horwich

Horwich

Horwich is a busy and bustling town centre, close to the University of Bolton stadium, home to Bolton Wanderers and to Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park. With a population of over 20,000 people. It is pleasant and attractive, and its character and identity is appreciated by its residents. Horwich has got almost everything that could be expected in a town centre of its size with a wide range of independent and national food retailers including restaurants, bars and cafes. There are also lots of public spaces including a public hall, a park, leisure centre, library & children’s centre, community and heritage centre, health clinic and schools.

Taking Action

Despite its popularity, Horwich still faces challenges and could benefit from making more of its assets including its green spaces and parks, community and housing and making the most of its connectivity and improving the public realm.

To face these challenges, the Council has adopted a three-pronged regeneration strategy to;

  • create a masterplan
  • intervene directly
  • leverage private investment

A £16m budget was approved in 2019 to support the delivery of town centre strategies in Farnworth, Westhoughton, Horwich and Little Lever, which aims to sustain the immediate future of the town centres to the benefit of the wider Borough and its residents.

The funding will be used to create strategies and masterplans in consultation with the local community and stakeholders to support targeted interventions which ultimately will attract private sector investment to secure any development proposals. The level of funding given to any town centre will depend on the overall content and quality of the strategy and masterplan and the level of support needed to initiate development.

Houses

Development of a Horwich Masterplan

BDP were appointed as Consultants in October 2019, to help develop a masterplan which reflects the Bolton Vision 2030 of “creating a vibrant place, built on strong cohesive communities, successful business and healthy residents ensuring it is a welcoming place where people choose to study, work and put down roots”.

A draft masterplan and key development proposals went out to public consultation at the start of 2020 and anyone with an interest in the future of Horwich town centre was given the opportunity to read the draft proposals and to feedback their views by the end of March 2020. The outcome of the public consultation was included in the development of the final masterplan approved by Executive Cabinet Member of Deputy Leader, Councillor Martyn Cox, in November 2020.

Horwich

Masterplans and Proposals

On completion of a masterplan for Horwich, a town centre Strategy will be developed by Bolton Council that will include target interventions, a masterplan framework and outlined economic benefits. An action plan of priorities, output measures and indicators will then be developed, monitored and reviewed annually by the Director of Place and Assistant Director of Economic Development and Regeneration alongside members of the Horwich town centre Steering Group.

District Centre Info

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