THIS is how a massive proposed town centre housing development in Bolton is set to look.

Developers are set to submit a planning application for 130 new homes as part of the Croal Valley intervention area.

The £25million proposal by North West-based Placefirst is a residential-led, mixed use scheme designed by architecture and design practice Levitt Bernstein.

The proposal for the key 1.1-hectare brownfield site in Bolton town centre is part of Bolton Council’s £1bn masterplan to transform the town centre.

Placefirst said they were working with Bolton Council to regenerate the site, to the north side of Deansgate, opposite the former Beales/Whittakers department store.

On the site currently are vacant buildings and the Central Street car park.

The site extends north from Deansgate to the River Croal.

Placefirst said it had has worked with Bolton Council and other stakeholders for the past two years on the design of the site.

The developer has also put its proposals to a number of independent design review panels and held discussions with the Civic Trust and local stakeholders.

The development proposed has a new avenue of town houses running uphill from the river embankment and a mixed residential and commercial building fronting Deansgate.

The development is designed around a network of pedestrian priority streets, a spacious square, courtyards, rooftop terraces and residents’ gardens.

The planned homes include family town houses of two and three bedrooms and one and two-bedroom apartments.

To complement the new homes, Placefirst is also proposing ground floor commercial units.

With the council, Placefirst is also planning enhancement of the river Croal embankment.

Deputy leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “Croal Valley is a key site in Bolton Council’s £1bn town centre masterplan and PlaceFirst’s plans are set to transform what it means to live in Bolton town centre with the focus on high quality residential properties and attractive public spaces making it a more desirable place to live and work.

“These plans show that developers have confidence in Bolton despite the challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and demonstrates the commitment that investors are prepared to make.”

David Mawson, chief executive for Placefirst, said: “Our vision for this Central Street development is much more than just bricks and mortar and is about creating a thriving community in the heart of Bolton.

“We’ve a proven track-record of regenerating areas and turning them into places people love to live, so am extremely excited about the transformation we’ll make to the town centre through this ambitious development.”

Placefirst’s Planning and development manager James Litherland added: “The proposals have been a long time in the making and we are delighted to now be in a position to submit for planning.

“We see great potential in Bolton and want to address the lack of high-quality housing within the town centre. The development will see this prominent part-derelict site transformed with a new urban community helping to support the town centre economy.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted at the beginning of December.

Placefirst aims to start work on site in 2021.

Bolton residents and other interested parties are invited to share their thoughts on the regeneration proposals ahead of the planning application submission.

Details are available via a consultation website at www.maddoxassociates.co.uk/bolton where comments can be submitted to Placefirst and its design team between now and the end of November.

Once a planning application is submitted, comments can be made to the local planning authority.