Bolton Moor Lane Bus Station: Home plans submitted

The plans were submitted following a public consultation, with the proposals attracting a mainly positive response.

Plans to be put forward before Bolton Council’s planning chiefs detail the development of more than 200 homes – a mix of houses and flats – in and around the Moor Lane bus station area to be managed by Bolton at Home.

The plans were revealed in mid-August, but were not submitted to the council until now as the developers wanted to put them before the public first.

Plans for Moor Lane Bus Station. Credit AEW Architects

This included leaflets being distributed to 1,008 nearby commercial and residential properties to ‘provide an overview of the plans and how feedback could be provided,’ according to developers.

Feedback from the questionnaire were mostly positive.

One comment said: “I think they are brilliant. Bolton needs new homes and what better place than on unused, brownfield eyesores otherwise left to be vandalised and ruined even more. Bringing more people into the town centre will also have benefits for the local businesses.”

Another positive observation said: “Absolutely fantastic proposals. The centre of Bolton really needs this and people don’t go shopping there anymore.”

However, not all the comments were positive. One said: “I personally think we do not need anymore houses building. Money needs to be put into Bolton town centre which quite frankly is not a place I want to visit.”

Another added: “I do not like the contemporary style of the proposed housing. They are too box like and don’t leave any scope for individuality.”

Developers FSG Moor Lane Bolton Developments Limited and Bolton at Home said: “The applicant is grateful to all those who took time to respond to the public consultation and all feedback has been reviewed by the project team. The majority of responses were positive with over 80 per cent of respondents agreeing with the questions posed to them.

“The main concerns received from the consultation were from respondents not wanting additional housing in Bolton.

Plans for Moor Lane Bus Station. Credit AEW Architects

“Although these sentiments have been taken into consideration, FSG Moor Lane Bolton Developments Limited and Bolton at Home believes Bolton is in need of new homes and the current disused site at the former bus station is an excellent location to accommodate additional housing.

“Given the high levels of positive feedback received throughout the consultation, FSG Moor Lane Bolton Developments Limited and Bolton at Home believe that these proposals will be welcomed by the majority of the local community in Bolton.”

A decision is expected by the end of November.