Council Officials Insist Demolished Shopping Centre Must Not Become a Blight

Council officials have stated that a future demolished shopping center in a town “cannot create a big hole which becomes a blight.” Crompton Place shopping centre, located in Bolton, is scheduled for demolition next year, and discussions with developers have commenced regarding potential temporary uses for the site after the clearance of debris. This undertaking is intended to restore a direct connection between Victoria Square and Bradshawgate. A proposed £250 million redevelopment plan for the location was abandoned because the coronavirus pandemic rendered the project unfeasible. The Crompton Place shopping centre, constructed in 1971, was acquired by Bolton Council for £14.8 million in 2018. Councillor Akhtar Zaman, the deputy leader of Bolton Council, indicated that the redevelopment of the area is intended to be the authority’s “flagship regeneration project,” but councillors wish to avoid having to “demolish the shopping centre bit by bit.” Zaman stated: “We do not want to create a big hole in Bolton town centre which then becomes a blight for the area. Our ambition is that, by the time we demolish Crompton Place, something will be in place.” The council articulated that its objective in demolishing Crompton Place is to offer prospective investors a development site that is ready for immediate construction in a prominent area. The authority anticipates that the site will feature a combination of residential, hospitality, leisure, and office facilities. Currently, only a small number of retail outlets continue to operate within the Crompton Place shopping centre. Bolton Council has been actively engaged in relocating the current tenants, such as Primark, which is transitioning to the adjacent Market Place shopping centre. Stephen Warren, who operates a watch repair business within the centre, conveyed to BBC Radio Manchester: “We moved into Crompton Place in 2006. Last year, Marks & Spencer moved out and the footfall went down. “Since then, its got a lot quieter but luckily we’ve been going for so long that we still have our regular customers, so we’re just waiting for the council to deal with us.” The increasing prevalence of online shopping has led to the closure of multiple prominent retail establishments in Bolton. Beales, formerly Whitakers, ceased operations in 2016, as did BHS in the same year. Debenhams shut its town store in 2021. Dorothy Kenworthy, a resident of Breightmet for 47 years, remarked: “Bolton town centre has changed a lot over the years.”We had loads of shops and it was very busy. It’s such a shame that it’s gone because it used to be a really nice little town.”