Bolton: Updates on Church Wharf and Trinity Street plans

Earlier this year, demolition work started its final phase at the Church Wharf scheme along the River Croal while plans for the Trinity Gateway housing scheme were lodged in May.

Last week, the council heard questions on what progress was being made on the two schemes.

Cllr Akhtar Zaman, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “In relation to Trinity, our officers are continuing to work with Capital&Centric to finalise the plan for this area and to secure as much funding as possible to make this scheme viable.

“Similarly, officers are also working with empire on their site which has planning approval but has not yet come forward for delivery.”

The Church Wharf site (Image: Bolton Council)

Capital&Centric, the developers behind the Trinity scheme, aim to build a total of 160 homes across three sites.

These include an area of brownfield land on the corner of Bradshawgate and Trinity Street and several areas of brownfield land on either side of Breightmet Street.

The project also aims to include community areas, green spaces and workspaces.

At Church Wharf, the plans were approved more than four years ago and are ultimately aimed at building more than 350 homes at the site.

This will include both houses and flats as well as commercial and leisure facilities.

The preparation of the site started with the demolition of properties on Bank Street and Manor Street, including buildings like Club Ice and the Late Club.

Cllr Zaman, who also sits as Bolton Council’s deputy leader, said: “With regards to Church Wharf, I am hope that a delivery option will soon be confirmed, and a positive announcement can be made on the timing of various developments.

“I am very hopeful and enthusiastic about that.

“Recognising that this is a key regeneration area for us that also has the opportunity to link up with Trinity and to support the Bradshawgate scheme.”

Cllr Zaman had been speaking at a full meeting of the council last week and responding to questions put by opposition leader Cllr Martyn Cox about Trinity Street and Church Wharf.

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Cllr Cox described both of these are “two of the key intervention areas” and asked about what progress had been made on them in recent months.

In February this year, while still leader of the council, he said Church Wharf would be key to the borough’s future.

He said: "It is clear how much has been achieved at this site over recent months and it was great to see the Church Wharf regeneration area beginning to take shape.

"Without the intervention of the council, many buildings in this part of town would have remained derelict and unused, now we are laying the groundwork for an exciting new neighbourhood."