Mayoral Development Corporation for Bolton Town Centre Survey

Overview

Greater Manchester is a rapidly growing city region, and with that growth comes the need for modern employment spaces and high-quality homes. Bolton Town Centre stands out as a significant investment and development opportunity, encompassing 13 key development sites that will substantially boost the town’s economic performance and enhance quality of life for Bolton’s residents. Collectively, these sites are anticipated to deliver up to 2,000 new homes, 31,000 sqm of employment space, 300 hotel beds and serviced apartments, 14,000 sqm of food and beverage floorspace, and more than 5,000 sqm dedicated to community and leisure uses.

Establishing the Bolton Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation will amplify the profile of Bolton’s town centre programme both regionally and nationally to attract future investment, demand and growth. It will act as a single institutional platform for regeneration activity across the Town Centre and front-door for engagement with stakeholders, developers and investors. Furthermore, establishing the Mayoral Development Corporation would coordinate activity on the delivery programme, enabling the delivery of optimal outcomes. It will also provide a long-term strategic vision and programme for the Town Centre, demonstrating commitment to delivery to provide developer and investor confidence.

The proposed Bolton Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation boundary is shown in the map below. It consists of Bolton Town Centre, within the ring road, and two extensions to the west and south. Bolton Town Centre presents a remarkable opportunity to create one of Greater Manchester's most significant investment and regeneration initiatives. This transformative project promises to dramatically enhance economic performance and quality of life for the borough and beyond.

To support the realisation of the shared vision for the area, the Greater Manchester Mayor has decided to consult on the creation of a regeneration corporation known as a Mayoral Development Corporation.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“Greater Manchester has been the fastest growing economy in the UK over the past decade – but we know that growth hasn’t been felt everywhere by everyone in our city region.

“That’s why we’re using innovative tools like Mayoral Development Corporations to remove barriers to development and bring forward the new homes, jobs, transport links, and investment that our communities need.

“A new MDC in Bolton can be a real driver of positive change for residents and businesses, building on the great work that’s already been done to breathe new life into the town centre, and deliver good growth right across Greater Manchester.”

Why your views matter

We believe that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) would work to secure benefits for local people and businesses and has the potential to turn the vision of Bolton Town Centre into reality. However, we want to ensure that everyone with an interest in the area has the opportunity to share their views on the MDC proposal. This consultation specifically focuses on the creation of an MDC to support development in the area.

During this consultation, we will gather public comments and opinions on.

• The creation of a Bolton Town Centre MDC
• If you think our proposals will help to support development, growth and improvements in Bolton Town Centre
• If we’ve got the proposed boundaries of the MDC right – and if not, what we need to consider changing.

While our preferred method for receiving feedback is through this online platform, alternative ways to share your views are outlined in the FAQ document below.

If you would like more information, need the consultation materials in an alternative format, or wish to access them using a translation service, please contact: engagement@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk