Bolton: M&S agreement approved for Crompton Place plan

The council acquired the shopping centre in 2018 and it acquired planning permission in 2020 before it ran into several setbacks which saw the scheme stall.

Into 2024, there remained a number of barriers to the redevelopment but, with Bolton Library returning to the Central Library, and with Primark switching Crompton Place for Market Place between the end of this year and the start of next year, the biggest barrier became M&S.

The Deansgate department store closed almost a year ago but it continued to pay rent to the council and it retained access to the roof of the shopping centre using the bridge over Hotel Street as a result.

The lease is for another three years but, on Monday (March 4), the cabinet approved an agreement with M&S to surrender its lease. The terms are confidential as a result of their commercial sensitivity.

The council is able to progress with an application to demolish Crompton Place and to start work as soon as Primark leaves whether this year or next year. 

On Monday, Akhtar Zaman, the deputy leader of the council and its cabinet member for regeneration, said: "There is private sector investment to come but it is reliant on our investment in the town centre such as at Crompton Place. 

"The redevelopment of Crompton Place will be the catalyst for private sector investment into the town and it will play a role in helping the council to realise its ambition for the heart of the town centre."

The decision looked like it might be delayed after the leader of the Conservative Group Martyn Cox said there was a lack of clarity in a report about the plan for Crompton Place and the plan for M&S.

However, after a clash with the leader of the council Nick Peel, it was agreed the decision would go to a place scrutiny committee after approval rather than a special scrutiny committee before approval.

Cllr Cox told The Bolton News: "It will be a public meeting rather than a private meeting because of the commercial sensitivity. This allows the scrutiny to take place relatively quickly and in public which we thought was important."

Cllr Peel told The Bolton News: "The decision is made but it will be subject to an item on a place scrutiny committee with the public."

The aim of the scheme remains the same as in 2018 in terms of creating walking routes between Bradshawgate and Victoria Square east to west and Deansgate and Mawdsley Street north to south, and in terms of creating a mixed-use development in the area around these walking routes. 

The council remains in talks with the businesses on the site, including Boots and Poundland, to relocate to elsewhere in the town centre, and with developers to take on the mixed-use development. The council said there is to be a public consultation followed by progress updates on the site.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.