A vibrant new neighbourhood is beginning to take shape, delivering new and affordable homes in an area of Bolton town centre that is being completely transformed.
Visitors will notice that work is progressing well at the Moor Lane development, with structural frames, brickwork and other key construction milestones already reached.
The completed project will feature 218 apartments and townhouses, including 82 affordable homes, as well as commercial units and green spaces.
The main development site at Moor Lane occupies brownfield land on the former bus station footprint, with two smaller plots located either side of the Job Centre.
The development is being delivered by Step Places, working with social housing provider Bolton at Home and Bolton Council.
It is just one of many exciting town centre projects underway in the Cheadle Square intervention area.
Residents of Moor Lane will be a short walk from the renovated Bolton Market, a modernised Central Library, a brand-new park, and the refurbished Wellspring office block for new tech start-ups.
Each of these schemes fits into Bolton Council’s wider regeneration plans, attracting more people to visit, live and work in the town centre which will, in-turn, attract more private investment.
The Leader and Deputy Leader of the council recently visited the Moor Lane development to view progress, where they were joined by the Managing Director of Step Places and colleagues from Bolton at Home.
Harinder Dhaliwal, Managing Director at Step Places, said:
“As the development takes shape at Moor Lane, you can see other improvement works taking place next door in the adjoining Bolton Market, as well as the creation of a new public park just on the opposite side of Black Horse Street.
“All of these projects are coming together to deliver the wider town centre vision and it is great to see.
“This regeneration is starting to create a real buzz and excitement around Bolton, where local residents and visitors will feel the benefits of these new high-quality places and the vibrancy they will create.”
Noel Sharpe, Bolton at Home’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We’re proud to be involved in a project that not only delivers on our ambition of creating new and much needed affordable homes, but which also supports the wider regeneration of the town centre.
“This is a great example of partnership working that will make our community stronger and more sustainable.”
Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“It was great to see the work progressing so well, and with the frames now in place it is clear to see what a great addition the Moor Lane development will be to this part of town.
“As trends shift away from physical retail, innovative brownfield residential developments like this are vital for keeping our town centres vibrant.
“I am particularly pleased that many of these new homes will be affordable, giving individuals and families access to a quality home close to a wide range of outstanding amenities.”
Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council Leader, said:
“Taken on its own, Moor Lane is an exciting development that will bring much needed housing into a prime town centre location.
“But viewed alongside the other nearby projects we can see our wider vision for the town centre beginning to take shape with improved public areas, cultural spaces, and schemes to attract new businesses that will bring more jobs into the borough.”