Farnworth
Following on from the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge of the late 2010’s which gave Farnworth the opportunity to boost its economic and community value, the town has been identified as part of the Government’s Long Term Plan for Towns Programme. This will provide £20 million over the ten years to 2034 to build on the vision, the 2019 Masterplan and Town Centre Strategy. The Long Term Plan programme requires the evolution of Bolton Towns Board to allow a specific Farnworth focus and the development of a refresh of the Vision for Farnworth. At the heart of the new Vision is the expectation that there will be extensive community involvement in shaping the plan and delivering the projects over the coming decade.
Farnworth Town Centre Strategy and Masterplan
In July 2019, Bolton Council formally approved the Town Centre Strategy for Farnworth and Masterplan after extensive consultation with residents, local stakeholders and businesses. At the time a number of interventions were identified and five years on these have either been completed or a well underway. The Long Term Plan will consider Farnworth beyond the town centre and develop actions to support people across the town so they grow a real sense of community and mutual respect.
Funding
Bolton Council was successful in securing a package of funding to turn the aspirations of the Masterplan into reality. £13.3m from the Future High Street Fund together with funding from the Greater Manchester Investment Fund and the council’s own budgets have already made great inroads into the transformation of Farnworth town centre.
The key projects for Farnworth have focussed on;
the repurposing of vacant retail space into a mixed-use community of over 100 homes;
delivering a high quality, flexible community hub from which a range of services can be delivered;
new commercial floorspace to activate the town and deliver job opportunities;
a new public square and improved pedestrian and cycle connections;
delivering an extended and improved Leisure Centre to support health and wellbeing outcomes for the community.
Pride in Place: Farnworth's Future Secured with £19.5m Investment
Farnworth is set to benefit from a once-in-a-generation opportunity as part of the Government’s Pride in Place Programme, which will see up to £5 billion invested across nearly 250 areas in the UK. Farnworth has been awarded £19.537 million over the next 10 years, dedicated to making long-term improvements shaped by the people who live and work here with Bolton Council as the accountable body for the funding.
The Pride in Place Programme is about more than funding—it’s about giving local communities the power to decide their own future. By bringing together residents, the local MP, Bolton Council, businesses, and community organisations, the programme ensures that Farnworth’s voice is at the heart of every decision. Each area receiving funding has been asked to form a Neighbourhood Board. Here in Farnworth, ours is called the Focus on Farnworth Board.
Focus on Farnworth Board
The board is designed to put local people at the centre of defining Farnworth’s future. It brings together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, voluntary sector social enterprises/community organisations and faith leaders
Together, this diverse group has created a shared vision for Farnworth’s future and mapped out a pathway to deliver it. Each area receiving funding has been asked to form a Neighbourhood Board. Here in Farnworth, ours is called the Focus on Farnworth Board.
Nine Projects of Transformation
Over the course of the 10-year programme, Farnworth will see nine major projects rolled out. These projects will reflect the priorities and aspirations of the community—whether that’s improving public spaces, boosting local businesses, enhancing transport links, or investing in cultural and social opportunities. This is about building a Farnworth that works for everyone: a town where pride in place is more than a slogan, but a lived reality.
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