Next tranche of homes comes forward at £262m Rivington Chase  

Bellway has lodged an application with Bolton Council for an additional 207 properties, part of Bluemantle Group’s wider 187-acre masterplan. 

Rivington Chase is a £262m regeneration project being delivered by Bluemantle Group in partnership with Bolton Council, Homes England, and HKR. 

The scheme proposes the redevelopment of the former locomotive works in Horwich, an industrial complex that first opened in 1886 and once housed the erecting shop of the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. 

The project was granted outline permission in 2015 for 1,700 homes, as well as retail and leisure.  

Bellway’s most recent plans will see an earlier phase it delivered expanded, the 112-home Barton Quarter. 

Part of Bellway’s latest proposal is to bring forward a link road connecting the different sections of Rivington Chase to Chorley New Road and to Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich Parkway Railway Station and Junction 6 of the M61.    

The proposed 207 homes will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and mews housing. A total of 50 will be four-bedroom properties, 144 will have three bedrooms, nine will have two bedrooms and the remaining four homes are to be one-bedroom properties.  

The scheme proposes the redevelopment of the former locomotive works in Horwich, an industrial complex that first opened in 1886

George Stevenson, land director at Bellway said: “Careful planning has gone into these proposals to create a high-quality, sustainable neighbourhood with designs that reflect the history and heritage of the site.   

“Rivington Chase is a truly special development that is transforming a derelict brownfield site into a neighbourhood that celebrates the history and heritage of the Loco Works and provides a destination for local people.”  

Mark Caldwell, chief executive of Bluemantle, added: “These proposals will accelerate the construction of the link road, providing vital infrastructure for the area. We are working up more detailed plans for the heritage parks, open space and community core at the centre of the site and will be announcing these shortly.” 

Subject to planning permission, work is to start in January 2022. The link road is due to be completed by March 2023 and all 207 homes by the spring of 2028.  

APD is the architect behind the scheme, and Cass Associates is the masterplanner for Rivington Chase. 

Avison Young is the planning consultant.