Meanwhile use put forward ahead of £250m Crompton Place regen
Bolton Council wants to install street food markets, a big screen, and an urban garden on the site of the former shopping centre once it has been demolished.
The Victoria Square frontage of Crompton Place – previously home to retailers including WH Smith, BHS, and Poundland – has been earmarked for temporary uses aimed at activating the area as it undergoes a £250m transformation led by MEPC, part of Federated Hermes.
The meanwhile use strategy, designed by CBRE, features six elements:
- Entertainment: An outdoor space for events, live performances, a big screen, and seasonal markets
- Food and drink: A flexible food and drink offer offering street food from local traders
- Green space: A planted garden with seating
- Activity zone: A space for sport and activities for all ages and abilities
- Multi-use hub: A flexible community building for people to learn, create and connect.
- Urban garden: A community-focused growing space combining urban agriculture, gardening workshops, and an artisan café.
Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, said: “The regeneration of Crompton Place will be transformational for Bolton, building on the work we have already done to bring even more homes, jobs and vibrancy to our town centre.
“But residents will not have to wait long to see the benefits thanks to our detailed meanwhile use plans which will put this site to work as soon as demolition is completed.
“This will be a brand-new community space for the people of Bolton to enjoy all year round with something to offer residents and visitors of all ages.”
The long-term plan for the 280,000 sq ft Crompton Place, which contractor Rhodar is currently in the process of demolishing, is for a mixed-use scheme featuring up to 340 homes, a 110-room hotel, and around 80,000 sq ft of offices.
Progress on the scheme, a long-standing regeneration priority for the council, has ramped up over recent months with the appointment of MEPC as development partner, the start of the internal strip-out, and the acquisition of the HSBC building, the last piece of the land assembly process.
To learn more about the meanwhile strategy, search for reference number 02024/26 on Bolton Council’s planning portal.
