THE boss of the Moorgarth Group — the new owners of the Market Place — has pledged to make the shopping centre the best destination for the people of Bolton.

Chief executive Tim Vaughan revealed the company had wanted to buy the shopping centre 18 months ago — but says administrators for the Agora shopping centres would not sell.

He said: “We have been actively seeking a regionally dominant shopping centre for the last two to three years.

“Nothing was coming at the time from the administrator, but we started looking at it in detail in September and we are very excited to have secured it.”

Mr Vaughan said although the Market Place is currently about 40 per cent unoccupied he was confident it would soon be full of primary traders.

He added: “On top of letting the vacant shops, which will happen, we have been working very hard in putting together our strategy for enhancing the offer.

“We want to attract Bolton people and others from beyond back into the town centre.

“This is not something as owners of the shopping centre we are going to be able to do in isolation. This is a joint venture between ourselves and the council.

“Bolton Council have been the most helpful authority I have ever come across in my 25 years of dealing in property.

“The Market Place is a fantastic opportunity in a beautiful building to create the best destination for the people of Bolton, and it will happen.”

Mr Vaughan said Moorgarth had conducted “due diligence” and worked out the best place to put the cinema.

“We have now designed a nine-screen cinema, which will be going above the shopping centre on the car park for which we will be submitting a planning application this week.

“Alongside that, one of the other weaknesses of the town is that there are few places to eat.”

Moorgarth’s plans include a 30,000 sq ft restaurant space within the lower floor, underneath the old market.

Mr Vaughan said: “Bolton has a fantastically diverse population and people will be getting a retail offer which will be massively improved, a very supportive council and a product in the Market Place which can and will be the best.”

Mr Vaughan also announced that from December 1, there would be an hour-and-a-half free parking at the Market Place and it will be reviewed following Christmas.

“Our aim is to drive footfall into the centre of Bolton,” he added.

More on the plans for The Market Place: