Rivington Chase, Novo Bluemantle, p Novo Bluemantle

Novo Bluemantle is seeking buyers for around 20 acres at Rivington Chase. Credit: via Novo Bluemantle

Novo and Bluemantle join forces for next phases of 1,700-home Rivington Chase

The developers have formed a strategic partnership to manage, reposition, and expand Bluemantle’s 300,000 sq ft commercial portfolio, while unlocking the final residential and commercial phases of the Horwich masterplan.

Novo Bluemantle is a newly formed topco that will act as the parent company for Bluemantle’s various businesses and assets.

The directors of Novo Bluemantle are Mark Caldwell, son of Bluemantle founder and chairman Jim Caldwell, and Novo founder Ben Fearns.

Novo Bluemantle is the master developer for the 1,700-home Rivington Chase in Horwich. The firm has appointed Colliers to attract occupiers and purchasers for four mixed-use parcels of land totalling approximately 20 acres.

“Rivington Chase has been created by many years of hard work and the history of the site means a huge amount to the local community,” Caldwell said.

“We have always been conscious of respecting this whilst creating a place that also provide new housing and employment opportunities for future generations.”

He added: “In many respects this mirrors the reasons for the creation of Novo Bluemantle, which brings together the longstanding family business and relationships of Bluemantle with the focus on growth, value creation and transformative energy embodied by Novo.

“The delivery of the final phases of Rivington Chase are the first chapter of what will be an exciting future for the combined group.”

The next phases will deliver housing, employment spaces, retail, and leisure amenities while preserving the heritage of the former Loco Works and incorporating green spaces, footpaths, and cycleways, the firm said.

The next phase of the masterplan follows the completion of the 2km spine road linking Middlebrook to Horwich town centre. Earlier phases were sold to Morris Homes and Bellway, which have in total acquired around 60 acres over the last few years to deliver more than 900 homes.

Rivington Chase, the redevelopment of the former Horwich Loco Works, has long been a regeneration priority for Bolton Council.

Like many large brownfield sites in the North, Rivington Chase has faced complexities and viability issues. Partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as grants of £12m and £2m from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority respectively, have helped solve these.

Cllr Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council, said: “Rivington Chase is a strategic priority for Bolton Council, who in partnership with Novo Bluemantle and other land partners, are creating up to 1,700 homes, employment space and local amenities.

“The development will deliver a range of much-needed houses on brownfield sites, directly meeting the housing needs of Horwich and the nearby areas and will bring substantial financial investment into Horwich.”

He added: “Given the heritage of the site on the former Horwich Loco Works, it is also important the development team is working with local residents and heritage groups to preserve this unique piece of Horwich history.”

As well as Rivington Chase, the Novo Bluemantle portfolio comprises the 60,000 sq ft Innovation House and the 120,000 sq ft Roundthorn Industrial estate, both in South Manchester.

In addition, the firm owns the 26,000 sq ft Rivington House in Horwich, which is fully let to Fluent Money on a recently signed 10-year lease.

The company’s commercial portfolio generates around £2.5m in rent a year.

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