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.
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