Step Places secures consent for 208 Bolton town centre homes
In partnership with housing association Bolton at Home, the developer is to redevelop the 4.4-acre former Moor Lane bus station.
Bolton Council’s planning committee approved the scheme yesterday.
Designed by Aew Architects, Step Places and Bolton at Home’s project would mainly be delivered on the site of the former bus station as well as two smaller plots on the other side of Black Horse Street either side of the job centre.
The housing mix
The bus station plot would comprise two six-storey apartment blocks each made up of 52 one- and two-bedroom flats. A total of 44 three-bedroom townhouses will fill the remainder of that plot.
The two smaller plots either side of the job centre would house two further apartment buildings, capped at four storeys due to their proximity to the listed Le Mans Crescent. These blocks would contain 60 flats.
Of the 164 apartments, 33 will be for over 55s and 27 would be designated affordable. The remaining 104 would be available for private rent.
- Credit: Aew Architects
- Credit: Aew Architects
Of the houses, 23 of the 44 to be built would be available for shared ownership.
AEW’s designs include public realm with cycle paths and enhanced pedestrian routes. There would also be three commercial units, located at the corner of Cheadle Square and Queen’s Street, as well as at the corner of Ashburner Street and Queen’s Street.
The project team features Euan Kellie Property Solutions as the planning consultant, Renaissance as structural engineer, and Ridge, which is providing project management, cost consultancy and building services support.
The wider Bolton picture
Elsewhere in Bolton, Placefirst is delivering 150 homes on Central Street, while the council is looking for new partners to deliver a raft of other town centre schemes.
Subplot reported in August that Bolton Council was looking to end its arrangement with Bolton Regeneration, a joint venture between BCEGI and Granite Turner.
The JV was meant to deliver the mixed-use Crompton Place Shopping Centre revamp, bringing in a hotel, 150 homes and 113,000 sq ft of office space.
According to Deloitte’s Bolton Town Centre: Investor Prospectus report from June 2020, the gross development value for Crompton Place is £175m.
Granite Turner, formerly known as Midia, had also secured contracts on its own to develop the council’s £40m Trinity Gateway project, which would have a 20-storey tower with 144 apartments and a six-storey building with 41,000 sq ft of office space.
Granite Turner was also to deliver the £33m Le Mans Crescent, which would convert the courts into a boutique hotel.
A “mutual agreement” was reached with BCEGI and Granite Turner to surrender their options agreements on the projects, according to the council.
While this scheme inst perfect (as pointed out at yesterdays planning committee) its flaws are compensated by its many positives and i’m pleased to see it go forward.
By MJ
Does that mean the Hen and Chickens pub is/will be no more?
By City Veteran
Great location in the centre of Bolton town centre, Ideal for shopping, working and good transport links.
By Darren Born Bred.