Away from the town centre, Bolton Council has committed £12m for district centre regeneration.

The money, which could rise to £16m depending on land disposal, will fund projects in Farnworth, Horwich, Little Lever and Westhoughton.

Projects include:

• Farnworth Green, a vibrant new neighbourhood on the town’s former precinct (backed by the government’s Future High Streets Fund and GMCA’s Brownfield Housing Fund)

• Work by Seddon to expand Farnworth Leisure Centre (another FHSF project)

• The completed Little Lever Library

• Improved paving schemes and pedestrian links in Westhoughton

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Adele Warren, said: “This council is committed to expanding regeneration well beyond the town centre to other areas of the borough.

“Our District Centres fund is designed to do just that, it is already delivering key projects that will make a positive impact in our local communities.

“Each development is based on feedback from local stakeholders to make sure that every pound we spend is being used to address the main priorities of our communities.”

Separately, work is progressing well on the new Bolton College of Medical Sciences (BCMS) which is backed by the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Based at the Royal Bolton Hospital site in Farnworth, it will provide a state-of-the-art training facility focusing on practical skills-based learning in a live hospital environment.

It is expected to make Farnworth a destination and a centre of excellence for healthcare skills, not only for learners within the local area but nationally and even internationally

BCMS is a collaborative project between the University of Bolton, Bolton College, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council.

Bolton also secured £12m from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to deliver a spine road at the Rivington Chase development.