The Greater Manchester town that could be transformed by masterplan including high-end hotel and new food hall

Bolton continues to move forward with its £1bn town centre masterplan with several projects in development. Developers also continue to table plans for schemes that catch the eye and promise to bring new homes, leisure and medical facilities to the borough.

Below are are some of the key projects could transform the town in 2024 and beyond.

Le Mans Crescent and town centre improvements

A bid for government cash to bring a ‘high end’ hotel and conference centre next to the town hall has been given funding. Bolton’s bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund, seeking £20m to transform the town centre was given the green light in October. Bolton Council, with the support of Bolton North East MP Mark Logan, have created the bid is part of the wider £1bn masterplan for the regeneration of the town centre. The scheme would see the under-used southern side of Le Mans Crescent converted into a high-end hotel operated by IHG, an internationally recognised brand. This would be complemented by adding conference facilities to the neighbouring Albert Halls.

New food hall at Bolton Market

A new food hall in Bolton market with communal dining benches and up to nine dining and drinks outlets is set to open in the new year. Early 2024 will see the final stages of work at the new venue, which hopes to attract diners to the market until later in the evening. The market’s new food hall includes space for nine different traders serving a central communal seating area. Other improvements to the market include the expansion of the outdoor area and structural renovations.

Bolton College of Medical Sciences

Work is nearing completion on the new medical and clinical skills training college set to train thousands of professionals at the Royal Bolton Hospital site. The Bolton College of Medical Sciences (BCMS) is due to open in 2024 and its leaders say it will provide unrivalled training opportunities for aspiring and existing healthcare professionals, and is expected to serve as a transformational blueprint for training NHS staff.

The college is a collaborative project between the University of Bolton, Bolton College, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council. Apprenticeship provision will extend to higher and degree apprenticeships, with programmes including nursing, care leadership and management. BCMS, which was allocated £20m by the Levelling-Up Fund in 2022, will deliver training to approximately 3,000 learners each year. Once open, it is expected to contribute £150m to the local economy over its lifetime. The construction phase, led by contractor Willmott Dixon, is set generate a local spend of around £12m, largely through local employment and supply-chain expenditure.

Central Street: The Bolton development laying the foundations for town centre living

Work on the £35m Bolton town centre regeneration project is well underway. It will create 167 new high-quality homes for rent. Build-to-rent developer Placefirst is transforming a brownfield site at Central Street into a new neighbourhood offering a mixture of apartments and town houses for long-term rent. A key part of this plan is to attract more people to live in the town centre, shifting focus away from retail to provide a mix of residential developments, as well as leisure and hospitality.

Bolton Central Library

After being closed for over a year, the refurbished library is set to reveal its new offer after a £4.43m renovation project. It will be opening its doors once again on Friday, January 19 and will celebrate with a family fun day on Saturday, January 20, from 11am – 3pm.

Not only has the building has been stripped back to reveal many of the original features, but an expanded children’s area, improved social spaces, updated digital facilities and a brand-new café will be unveiled. The new space has been designed to reflect the changing way in which communities use their local libraries, with an added emphasis on reading, creativity and digital inclusion.

The new mezzanine floor provides a welcoming space for a variety of local community and wellbeing groups and for other groups who visit and wish to use the building. A new children and young people’s library space has been created and split into three areas for young people of different ages. The renovations also include Changing Places Toilets.