‘Game changing’ plans have today been approved to transform an old market district into a thriving town centre with new homes, bars and cafes.

Farnworth’s Market Precinct will now be transformed with plans for 85 new apartments, 12 new family homes, and over 20,000 square feet set aside for bars, cafes and independent shops.

The ambitious plans will be set in motion this summer, with hoarding to be installed in a matter of weeks, after today being given approval by Bolton Council’s planning committee.

Developers Capital&Centric co-founder Adam Higgins said: “This is not only a game-changer for Farnworth but a blueprint for Greater Manchester towns to adopt.

“It was a challenge set for us by Bolton.

"We knew whatever we did in Farnworth, we had to redefine the future for generations and think long and hard about the design.”

The plans will also include a community hub on the ground floor of one of the proposed buildings, a new public square, complete with green spaces and an events pavilion, set to support outdoor community events.

Developers say they will also include landscaping to introduce greenery to the town centre and pedestrian links through the community and safe cycle storage

Mr Higgens said: “That's not easy to deliver, when the average house price in Farnworth is around £144,000, but we've taken a long-term view of value creation and that's unlocked the whole project.

“Our vision is bold, creative and ambitious but we've been inspired by the support from the Council, the Towns Fund and GMCA’s innovative brownfield land fund to help us make it happen.”

The project, led by the Manchester-based social impact developers, is backed by the government’s Future High Street Fund.

This latest approval agrees the detail of the scheme and follows the original outline consent in September 2021.

Bolton Council director of place development Gerry Brough, said: “This is a real vote of confidence in the regeneration of Farnworth and Capital & Centric’s multi-million-pound investment in the district centre.

“We are delighted to support this with our extension and refurbishment of Farnworth Leisure.”