Partners set vision for NorthFold’s 2.7m sq ft Health Innovation Bolton

The place-based growth initiative aims to tackle health inequality and deprivation in one of the lowest ranking areas in the country for social value with a £1bn mixed-use development comprising thousands of homes and employment space.

Lying within the 10-year NorthFold growth plan for Wigan and Bolton, Health Innovation Bolton has been born from a strategic partnership between Bolton Council, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Peel Land, University of Greater Manchester, and Bradford Estates.

The latest plans to bring forward the NorthFold vision were touted by its chiefs at Place North West’s NorthFold event at Bolton’s Toughsheet Community Stadium.

HIB partners have now endorsed concepts and blueprints for the project. Priorities set out focus on creating health and clinical facilities, community and placemaking, academic skills and training, commercial occupiers, and innovation.

The scheme would cover some 800 acres, provide up to 3,000 homes, 2.7m sq ft of health-led employment space, and create some 5,000 jobs, connected via a transport corridor.

Cllr Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council, said: “Health Innovation Bolton represents an exciting opportunity to tackle inequality, create opportunity, and put health and wellbeing at the centre of our borough’s ongoing regeneration.

“If approved, these plans will mark the first step towards a partnership approach that will give us the best chance of delivering the infrastructure and the investment that our communities deserve.”

Bolton Council is consulting on the next version of its emerging local plan over the next eight weeks.

The local plan puts health at the heart of the plan for Bolton – and identifies opportunities for areas to enact change, including the potential for HIB.

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Stephen Wild, managing director at Peel Land, said: “Health Innovation Bolton represents everything we believe regeneration should be – partner-led, community-focused, and designed to create lasting positive change.

“By bringing together the NHS, local government, education, and the private sector, we can tackle complex health and social challenges, and grow our economy in ways none of us could achieve alone.”

Fiona Noden, chief executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We welcome this exciting development and look forward to continuing to explore how we can work in partnership to tackle health inequalities and improve health outcomes for our Bolton communities and beyond.”

Dr Greg Walker, vice chancellor of the University of Greater Manchester, said: “This development is a hugely exciting prospect for the town of Bolton and beyond.

“Building on the close relationship with the Trust, and linking our medical school with strengths in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and computing, we look forward to helping to deliver this important opportunity for health innovation.”

A spokesperson for Bradford Estates added: “We are pleased to be supporting the next step for NorthFold, a project set to bring long-term benefits for the local area. By progressing with the delivery of these much-needed homes, we can help respond to growing demand and start creating real benefits for local communities.”