The Bolton Thread

[andysimo123]

Originally Posted by leadfrog1

Renders of the grade II listed Trinity church by makin architecture.

http://www.makinarchitecture.com/pub...&id_project=43

They need to do something with that asap. I've heard of some strange stories since its been boarded up, deaths, drugs, guns and porn shoots.

[andysimo123]

Originally Posted by flange

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/...30m_pool_plan/

Work starts on the 12th. Value of £31 Million, that multi story car park around the corner needs finishing asap. Going to be murder once the temp car park is closed. Likely push more people on to the trains for a good few months, likely a good thing.

[flange]

Yes the new health centre and swimming pool is due to be called Bolton One, the new multi storey opens in the new year apparently.

Name announced for Bolton's new pool, sport and health centre

Tuesday 06 October 2009

Bolton One has been unveiled as the name for the town's new £30.6 million swimming pool, health and academic centre.

The announcement comes on the back of the project reaching financial close.

The name was chosen from a shortlist drawn up by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton and the University of Bolton - the three organisations involved in the project.

The complex will house a swimming pool and leisure services, a four-storey urgent care centre, and sports science laboratories and teaching facilities - all under one roof. Bolton One will be built at the University's Deane Road campus and is due for completion in early 2012.

Dr George Holmes, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bolton, said: 'Bolton One will be a great asset, for our students, staff and the entire town. It will also make the University of Bolton a distinctive health learning provider within the university sector. We will be working directly with our Bolton One neighbour NHS Bolton, within the primary care sphere, in a way universities have traditionally worked with hospitals.'

Pam Senior, Chair of NHS Bolton, added: 'This iconic new building will mark a significant development in our strategy for improving health and health services for Bolton, and we are delighted that it is being delivered through this unique three-way partnership.'

Councillor Cliff Morris, Leader of Bolton Council, said: 'Bolton One represents three partners coming together and our aspiration to provide the best facilities for the town. The name has been chosen to represent the breadth of services that will be contained, in one centre, under one roof, for one community.'

Bolton One will house an eight-lane, 25-metre competition swimming pool with seating for 250 spectators; a therapeutic hydrotherapy pool for people with disabilities; a fitness suite; aerobics studio and community gym. Serco, which manages the council's leisure centres, will run the swimming pool and leisure facilities of the complex.

The University will be providing a Centre of Excellence for Health and Wellbeing, which will include clinical skills laboratory facilities; a rehabilitation suite, including rehabilitation clinics; sports injury and exercise and conditioning clinics; teaching and seminar rooms and test-running track. The University will also have a sports centre and climbing wall within the complex which will replace its current facilities. These house four badminton courts and can be used for sports activities including 5-a-side football, badminton, table tennis, trampolining, netball and volleyball.

An urgent care, diagnostic and treatment centre, managed by the NHS within the complex, will provide a 'walk-in' service for patients. The centre will provide a convenient assessment, advice and treatment service to help patients avoid unnecessary trips to Accident and Emergency departments for the treatment of minor injuries and illnesses. Other urgent care such as GP out-of-hours services will also be based here.

Bolton One will meet the BREEAM Excellent rating, a national sustainability measure used for new buildings, making it a landmark building for the town.

http://www.bolton.ac.uk/News/News-Ar...oct2009-4.aspx

[flange]

Work starts on new Bolton multi-storey car park

Monday 5th October 2009

Roadworks to improve access to a new town centre multi-storey car park start today.

A crossing is planned for University Way between Wellington Street and Ellesmere Street.

Mini roundabouts will also be installed at Wellington Street and Ellesmere Street.

The works will improve access to the Deane Road multi-storey car park, due for completion in November, and the Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form College joint campus, which is due to open next year.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/...orey_car_park/

[flange]

The logo for Bolton One.

[Maker of Things]

First Post. I have been reading the forum for a few years I live here in Bolton (Born & Bred). Bolton seems to be doing well development wise, the new college complex is dominating the western part of the town and on monday portacabins were placed on the site of the old school, the site of the new health centre and pool. The town hall covered in scaffolding as well as the statues and the war memorial and they seem to be undergoing a major restoration/clean. The streets are also being refurbished with many of the major roads and parts of the ring road being resurfaced and the town centre pavements being flagged in york stone? with wide granite curb stones. I never seen so much construction/Public realm work go on in the years I've lived here.

[flange]

New car park to ‘set the standard’

7:59am Friday 13th November 2009

MOST people’s views of car parks are of lifeless concrete structures.

But as you can see from our photograph, the new six-storey, 815-space Deane Road Car Park has a more eye-catching design.

Featuring a white, black and grey facade, the car park — pictured here towering behind Bolton Central Fire Station — is due to open later this month.

Cllr John Byrne, Bolton Council executive member for regeneration and development, said: “The striking architectural design of Deane Road car park will certainly add to Bolton’s townscape.

“Four colours have been used for the panels on eastern and western sides of the car park, and the frontage is clad in Portland stone, which is very high quality. The building design sets a new benchmark in the town.”

The design, which is also being replicated on the new four-storey 800-space Topp Way car park, is not to everyone’s taste, however, and one leading councillor has described it as a “3D version of the old BBC test card”.

Cllr John Walsh, leader of Bolton Council’s Conservative group, said he would have preferred a more historically sympathetic design for the Topp Way multi-storey, which is due to open in the new year.

He said: “St George’s Church, just across from the car park, has been described as the most important Georgian church building outside of London and the council is spending huge sums to improve the surrounding area. I wanted to see a building which reflected that style.

“The design may work behind the new colleges of Deane Road but, in my view, it is totally wrong in Topp Way.”

Both car parks will be managed by NCP as part of a multi-million pound 35-year deal that will see the company build and manage car parks in the town centre.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/...e_standard___/

[flange]

New multi-storey car park is open for business

8:17am Tuesday 1st December 2009

THE first piece of Bolton’s £300 million Innovation Zone regeneration plan is complete after a new car park opened its barriers for the first time.

The Deane Road multi-storey car park, built in a joint project by Bolton Council and National Car Parks, holds 805 cars and has a striking black, white and tiles exterior.

It is the first project to be completed within the Innovation Zone, the council’s flagship, multi-million pound project which also includes a new college campus, a health centre and a leisure centre.

As well as servicing the new developments, council bosses hope the six-storey car park will encourage shoppers to visit the town centre.

Cllr John Byrne, the council’s executive member for development, said: “This is a significant landmark for the Innovation Zone, and it signals that work within the zone is well and truly under way.

“We hope that providing safe and secure car parking will also bring in new visitors.”

The car park’s barriers opened at 7.15am yesterday and, within 20 minutes, the first few cars had entered.

It was a quiet first day, however, with only a handful of spaces taken up, mostly by people working on the site.

Few people were aware that the car park had opened, hidden as it is in the middle of a building site. Signs are due to be installed in Trinity Street, Great Moor Street and Deane Road in the next few days.

The car park, which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has “green” features, including three charging spots for electric cars and intelligent lighting which turns on automatically when it detects movement.

The main entrance is from Stanley Street South, off Deane Road, but there is also another entrance from Wellington Street. NCP contract manager Mike McNeil said the car park will reduce congestion as well as encourage visitors.

He said: “The council is looking to encourage a hell of a lot of people to come into the town and, if we give them an easy parking experience, we can help that.

“It’s the first complete part of the Innovation Zone and that in itself is a bit of a landmark.”

A second multi-storey car park, in Topp Way, is due to open in February.

The £70 million college campus will open in September next year and the £30 million health and leisure centre in 2012, with all schemes on track despite the recession.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/..._for_business/

[Bachy Soletanche]

There is no god.

[flange]

Bolton Museum to undergo £550,000 facelift

11:11am Friday 11th December 2009

Bolton Museum is to undergo a major £550,000 facelift.

The Le Man's Crescent museum is being overhauled and will bring to life the development of Bolton from the birth of the textile industry up to the modern day.

Samuel Crompton's Spinning Mule revolutionised the British cotton industry in the 1800s and the museum's mule - the last surviving of its kind - will form the centre piece of the new permanent exhibition.

Other highlights include a "talking heads" display which will see Crompton and the town's other famous son Richard Arkwright come to life to discuss the development of the textile industry and argue their contrasting views.

Cash has been secured from the Northwest Regional Development Agency for the ambitious project, the rest of which is being funded by Bolton Council.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington, Executive member for adult and community services at Bolton Council, said: "We are very fortunate in Bolton to have an already outstanding museum facility. That said, we are delighted to be able to take up this opportunity to develop and improve the attraction further."

The museum gallery will close to the public on January 4 for around 10 months whilst the major refurbishment project is carried out.

The central library, the Aquarium and the History Centre will remain open during the refurbishment.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/..._000_facelift/

[Chorley Boi]

Correct me if I am wrong but Richard Arkwright was from Preston, begin his empire in Chorley with the Birkacre Mills and spent his twilight years in Derbyshire.

No discredit to Bolton here; the town's proud textile industry etc needs to be as much as they can and this investment is great. Just history needs to be correct.

[Maker of Things]

Originally Posted by Chorley Boi

Correct me if I am wrong but Richard Arkwright was from Preston, begin his empire in Chorley with the Birkacre Mills and spent his twilight years in Derbyshire.

No discredit to Bolton here; the town's proud textile industry etc needs to be as much as they can and this investment is great. Just history needs to be correct.

Your right, but it is where he set up his first business as a barber on Churchgate where he made the money that he used to invest in the cotton industry. There is a plaque on the building that replaced his shop commemorating this, now occupied by Booths music shop.

DLJ

[flange]

Newport Street could gain a glass roof as part of Bolton makeover

9:58am Monday 21st December 2009

A RADICAL new plan has been drawn up by a Bolton businessman which could transform one of the town’s busiest streets into a modern all-weather shopping arcade.

Tasos Pattichis says the new design could revitalise windswept Newport Street into a stunning shopping arcade with year-round protection from the weather.

The street is home to many charity and “pound” shops and is a main thoroughfare from Great Moor Street to Victoria Square.

Mr Pattichis owns the Olympus Fish and Chip restaurant in Great Moor Street and has other property interests in the town centre.

He spent his own money commissioning local firm Neil Pike Architecture to draw up plans for the stunning glass arcade, which he says will enhance the council’s plans to redevelop that part of the town.

The finished design, which it is estimated would cost about £7 million, is reminiscent of the Victorian glass arcades that attract shoppers to cities like Leeds and Chester.

Fronted by huge columns, which would reflect the massive stone columns on the town hall, Mr Pattichis wanted his design to provide an impressive showcase entry to the town.

He has been thinking long and hard about how the Newport Street part of the town centre could be improved with a view to fitting his design into the plans for a new £48 million bus/rail interchange plan which is expected to be completed by 2012.

He said: “Newport Street is a central axis point that can be widely viewed as an entrance to the town, and if we can do anything to revitalise the area it will be worthwhile.

“If the arcade goes ahead, the impressive glass construction will create a memorable first impression for those coming to Bolton, giving a feelgood factor currently lacking in this area.

“The arcade will give better security and protection from the weather and it will bring lots more footfall to the existing shops. It will lead visitors through to the impressive town hall square.”

Keith Davies, Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration, said: “I think it’s really good that a private-sector businessman who has a stake in Bolton shares our ambition for the town centre.

“His idea for the glass arcade looks really exciting and what we have been asked to do by the leader of the council is to examine how we can incorporate this thinking into the broader regeneration plans for that area, which will have a new transport interchange at its heart.”

Neil Pike, who created the he design, said: “Mr Pattichis should be congratulated and applauded for his ideas and efforts to stimulate the town centre primarily for the benefit and prosperity of the community.

“This opportunity should be supported by the people of Bolton and the business community and could be driven by the council.”

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/...lton_makeover/

[flange]

Public consultation on Bolton bus station underway

13 Jan 2010, 16:29

Michael Hunt



A consultation on plans to create a new transport facility on land next to Bolton railway station is currently underway.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, in partnership with Bolton Council, is inviting comments on the proposals, which involve the creation of a new bus station on land bounded by Newport Street and Great Moor Street.

The new bus station would replace the existing station at Moor Lane and aims to offer improved links between rail and bus services, as well as improved waiting areas, passenger facilities, accessibility, information, and safety and security.

Views are being sought on the proposals ahead of an outline planning application being submitted to Bolton Council's planning department this coming spring.

The facility could be operational by winter 2014/2015, subject to it securing the necessary approvals and permissions.

Cllr Richard Knowles, chair of Greater Manchester integrated transport authority's capital projects committee, said: "The current bus station at Moor Lane is quite some distance from Bolton railway station so people tend to choose one or the other.

"By bringing them together we can make it easier for people to switch from the bus to the train, and vice versa, helping them to make their full journey by public transport. We'd also be providing a modern, high quality gateway into Bolton, which will play an important part in driving the regeneration of the town centre, in partnership with Bolton Council.

"The designs are still at an early stage and the feedback from this consultation will help us to develop the detailed proposals, so I would encourage everyone to take part and have their say."

The scheme is being funded through the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and forms part of Bolton Council's town centre regeneration programme.

The consultation will run until 5 March 2010 and an exhibition of the plans will be displayed at Moor Lane bus station Travelshop between Monday 25 January and Friday 5 March.

It will be staffed by representatives from GMPTE and Bolton Council on Thursday 4 and Tuesday 9 February, from 12pm to 7pm.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...-underway.html

[WatcherZero]

The consultation document.

http://www.gmpte.com/upload/library/...ge_leaflet.pdf

[flange]

NCP opens 800-space Topp Way car park

17 Mar 2010, 07:59

Bolton's latest multi-storey car park opened last week, the second of three being delievered under an agreement between Bolton Council and National Car Parks.

The relocation of parking in the town will free up development sites and increase capacity as planned schemes attract more visitors.

The car park will also house Bolton's first town centre 'Changing Places' facility, for profoundly disabled people. As well as a toilet it features a changing bench and a ceiling hoist, which is operated electronically and can be used to lift people. The facility, on the ground floor, will open on 29 March.

The town's Shopmobility service, currently on Le Mans Crescent, is also moving in at the end of the month. The car park boasts green credentials with an intelligent lighting system, which ensures that lights are only switched on in parts of the car park that are in use, or where natural lighting is insufficient. There are also five charging spots for electric vehicles.

Cllr John Byrne, Bolton Council's executive member for development, said: "The car park will play a significant role in supporting future developments in the town centre and should also bring in new visitors. The ground floor lobby also includes space to accommodate potential small retail outlets as a future development."

A six-storey 815 space car park on Deane Road opened for business in November 2009. The multi-storey was the first building to be completed in the Innovation Zone.

Details of the location and timeframe for the third car park have yet to be finalised.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...-car-park.html

[flange]

BAM on track with new college

17 Mar 2010, 10:25

The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton were given an exclusive tour of Bolton Community College's £70m campus redevelopment yesterday.

Joined by the College's Principal, Carol Bannerman, and director of estates, Carl Hosker, the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Norman Critchley and his wife Delyse, enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at how work is progressing on site.

BAM project manager, Paul Harris, led the tour of the 200,000 sq ft campus, including the 30,000 sq ft construction skills and arts building and 6,000 sq ft sports hall and gymnasium.

The tour also took in the rotunda, a glazed, three storey structure, housing a number of Learning Resource Centres. It will provide flexible learning and office spaces, classrooms, and an informal café area with elliptical mezzanine floor. The Mayor met with engineers from Giffords, responsible for the structural design of the new campus.

The Mayor of Bolton said: "After 45 years as a self-employed chartered structural engineer, it was fantastic to speak with the contractor and sub-contractors about the development of the new campus.

"The co-location of Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form College is a wonderful development for the town and I hope people will take full advantage of the opportunities it will present."

Carol Bannerman added: "Work on site is progressing well and our contractor BAM, along with the sub-contractors, are doing a fantastic job ensuring that this world class campus, with all its cutting-edge facilities, will be open for our new and existing learners in September."

The new campus is part of the overall £90m scheme that will see Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form College sit side-by-side on Deane Road at the heart of the town's £300m Innovation Zone.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...w-college.html

[flange]

New bus station moves a step closer

17 Mar 2010, 10:48

Consultation has now closed on proposals to move Bolton's main bus station as part of a £48m transport improvement programme.

GMPTE and Bolton Council invited comments on the proposals, which involve the creation of a new bus station next to Bolton railway station, on land bounded by Newport Street and Great Moor Street.

The new bus station would replace the existing station at Moor Lane and offer improved links between rail and bus services, as well as improved waiting areas, passenger facilities, accessibility, information and safety and security.

Views were sought on the proposals ahead of an outline planning application being submitted to Bolton Council's planning department this spring.

Comments received will feed into the ongoing design and development work for the facility which, subject to securing the necessary approvals and permissions, could be operational by winter 2014/2015.

The scheme is being funded through the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and forms an integral part of the Innovation Zone Bolton.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...ep-closer.html

[flange]

Church Wharf grant decision 'due in summer'

17 Mar 2010, 12:06

Ken Knott, chief executive of Ask Developments, said he was confident of winning approval for public subsidy to unlock the Bolton regeneration scheme.

A joint venture between Ask Developments and Bluemantle won a development competition for the major 13-acre Bolton town centre project prior to the downturn. Since then values have fallen and taken the scheme 'below water' financially.

A grant application, for a sum believed to be sub-£10m, will take the scheme back into profit if approved. Ask/Bluemantle plan 300,000 sq ft of offices in several phases and 125,000 sq ft of leisure, as well as residential, a new square and hotel.

Knott, speaking at MIPIM in Cannes, said: "As a result of the value shift the scale of the project cannot be sustained or building work advanced without some public funding."

The grant would only cover the first phase, which will, if delivered, include the entire 125,000 sq ft leisure and an initial office phase of around 40,000 sq ft.

Knott added: "We have cleared the first stage with the NWDA of testing social and economic benefits and Church Wharf clearly does that. We are now halfway through the second stage of carrying out detailed feasibility work to closely understand the costs of all aspects of the build, which is a hugely demanding exercise.

"We hope to conclude that detailed work and submit a formal application that can go to the NWDA board by mid-summer."

The NWDA would not have to defer the final approval to Treasury as the grant is under the £20m threshold for Central Government sign-off.

Talks with the Homes & Communities Agency have concluded that its budget is fully committed for the next year and assistance for Church Wharf's residential content would only be possible if delivered in the latter phases of the development.

Knott said raising development finance for Church Wharf would not be a problem once the NWDA funding had de-risked the project.

Mark Caldwell, chief executive of Bluemantle, said: "Bolton is one of Bluemantle's key areas for investment and we have significant land holdings in the area.

"We are working closely with Bolton Council to deliver Church Wharf. We are also working with the council to unlock Horwich Loco Works, a 150-acre regionally significant residential and employment scheme which will provide 1,600 houses and 750,000 sq ft of commercial space."

Outline planning permission for the scheme, designed by Carey Jones Architects, was granted in 2008.

Liverpool-based regeneration consultancy Amion is advising Ask on the application process.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...in-summer.html

[flange]

Bolton Central Square centre in doubt

24 June 2010

Developer Wilson Bowden has pulled out of plans to build a £100million shopping centre in Bolton.

The company was chosen as preferred developer of the 350,000 square foot Central Square scheme in 2004. But Bolton council says its agreement with the company is now over.

The shopping centre was to be anchored by a 115,000 square foot food store. There would also be an 850-space underground car park.

A council statement said: “At the end of last year, we met with Wilson Bowden to understand whether the original overall scheme for Central Street was still deliverable. We agreed with them that due to market conditions changing, the development should be moved on in phases.

“The key element is delivering the food store and we felt this was best taken forward with the landowners who will also act as developers. At that point we agreed with Wilson Bowden that they would not be the preferred developer for the scheme.”

http://www.retailpropertyanddevelopm...e-doubt-061999