Bolton to spec-build offices at gateway site

Bolton Council is looking to create a scheme called Trinity Gateway, featuring a 40,000 sq ft office block, hotel and multi-storey car park at the junction of Trinity Street and Bradshawgate in the town centre.

The site is made up of two key elements: a site formerly occupied by the Wayne Walker meat store, acquired by the local authority from the business in October 2016 after the owner decided to cease trading, and a surface car park, which has been purchased from Gordon Moon Associates.

With Bolton’s new £48m transport interchange set to open this summer, the council has worked up concepts for the site and intends to go for planning later this year with a project that takes its lead from the mix of uses delivered by Muse at Stockport Exchange. As happened in Stockport, the car park is likely to be the first building developed.

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said: “We want to transform a key gateway into Bolton town centre and support the wider redevelopment that we’re seeing in the town.

“Work on the interchange is nearing completion and when it opens commuters will benefit from a modern transport hub. With rail electrification set to start at the end of this year, this will mean additional, improved rail services, but it also means that there will be more demand for parking and we need to have infrastructure in place to ensure we are ready.”

Discussions with NCP are underway regarding the car park. Cllr Morris added: “We are gauging interest with hoteliers and we know that there is huge office demand in Bolton. We had so much interest in Bolton Central and we will be building this office block speculatively – like we did with Bolton Central – as we are confident that the demand is there.”

The 30,000 sq ft Bolton Central was started in January 2016 and is close to completion.