Heaton completes Stone Cross House

The Wigan-based property investor has finished work on a 61-unit residential scheme in the Church Wharf area of Bolton town centre.

The Heaton Group redeveloped a former office block, Stone Cross House, into a collection of one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments with car parking for tenants.

The 35,000 sq ft scheme is located within the £150m Church Wharf regeneration area, which is being developed by Muse Developments and architect AEW.

Muse won full consent last March to start demolition and infrastructure preparation works, and at the same time secured outline planning permission for later phases of the scheme, including 350 homes and 130,000 sq ft of offices and leisure.

Church Wharf is part of the wider £1bn regeneration plan for Bolton town centre.

Heaton described Stone Cross House as the Greater Manchester suburb’s first high-specification, “city living”-style apartment block, which features a top-floor penthouse and rooftop terrace.

Architecture firm Studio KMA designed the scheme, while Heaton’s in-house construction arm built the project and its in-house planners led on planning consultancy.

John Heaton, managing director of The Heaton Group, said: “During the current pandemic, we have continued to progress developments…within government guideline.

“This has resulted in the Stone Cross House build continuing on schedule, meaning it’s now ready for completion and for tenants to move in this month.”

Heaton added that the company is looking to acquire and obtain planning for other sites around the North West. “We remain optimistic about the future,” he said.

Law firm Kuits advised the developer on the scheme.

Claire Heron, residential property associate at Kuits, said: “Our current view of the market is that things are starting to pick up again and there are significant opportunities to be had for developers.”