Demolition of Crompton Place begins
Main contractor Rhodar has commenced strip-out of the former shopping centre, a £5m job that will line the site up for a £250m redevelopment led by Bolton Council and MEPC.
Crompton Place’s days have been numbered since the council purchased the 280,000 sq ft complex in 2018 for £14.8m. Its demolition will deliver an immediate benefit in providing a pedestrian link between Victoria Square and Bradshawgate that can also be used for events and pop-ups.
Projected to cost around £250m, the reworked Crompton Place could include up to 340 homes, a 110-room hotel, and around 80,000 sq ft of offices. It sits within a proposed territory of a future Bolton Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation and is due to receive financial support from Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s £2bn Good Growth Fund.
“Today marks the official start of the delivery phase of Bolton’s biggest regeneration project in a generation,” said Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, at a ceremony celebrating the beginning of the demolition process.
“It is a whole new chapter for our town centre as we replace an out-dated and unloved shopping centre with something everyone in Bolton can be proud of.
“Crompton Place will be a catalyst for further town centre investment, building on the many projects we have already delivered successfully.”
Rhodar contracts director Tony Clarke assured Bolton residents that the demolition work would be done in phases with precautions undertaken to mitigate dust, noise, and vibration.
As part of its contract award, Rhodar also plans to spend £1m locally.
“In addition, we are committed to creating lasting social value by supporting apprenticeships, investing in local businesses and suppliers, and engaging with the community,” Clarke said.
“Our goal is to leave a positive legacy, making a meaningful contribution to the Bolton area.”
You can review the application to demolish Crompton Place by searching reference 19641/25 on Bolton Council’s planning portal.
It’s taken waaay to long to get to this point… it absolutely needs to go so great news that its finally happening. We do need to proper plan for what will replace it. Something along the lines of the rock in Bury would be a decent catalyst for town centre regeneration.
By ML
Good riddance it was an awful centre. The plans for its replacement look much better.
By Anonymous
Bolton as changed drastically from the 70s and nothing you do will bring back the town back to it’s former glory, it was a great town back in the 80s, and no amount of money will change that.
By Jack
I love the optimism Jack! Let’s just write it off as a lost cause and leave it.
Or maybe, try and intervene and do something to improve the lives and fortunes of residents present and future.
I don’t think anyone is trying to turn back the clock to the 70’s. Simply recognise that the current situation is not fit for current times and should not no longer be accepted
By Baffled
Let the modernisation of Bolton begin. This place has looked horrific since I was a kid and so pleased it is going. It’s low density and extremely ugly. Bolton deseverves so much better. My grandparents would be thrilled it’s all being replaced!
By Great news
Where is the demand for office space in Bolton?
By Anonymous
No shops then ? And why do we need more office space theres lits of underused space already.The hotel wont happen. Any parking for all those new homes or are they all going to be ‘young professionals ‘ who cycle or go by train ?
By Anonymous
No shops? That’s ridiculous! people won’t a decent shopping centre not office space.
By Anonymous
I do wonder about these comments. No shops? Market Place anyone?
By Baffled
Wish M&S had never left. No good shopping in town centre. I live in Westhoughton and rarely go into Bolton anymore. Can’t wait till M&S opens at middlebrook!
By Anonymous
Sad that they aren’t replacing it with shops. There are hardly any in the market hall…there is nothing to draw people into the centre. Bury doesnt have this issue because they still have an abundance of variety. The young people don’t shop in Bolton anymore they go to Bury or Manchester. The town will just become a housing estate.
By Anonymous
Location location location. Bolton will be the new ‘Stockport’ in 5 years
By Darren