Crompton Place, Bolton

Crompton Place is a £200 million mixed‑use regeneration programme that will transform a four‑acre site in Bolton town centre from an underused retail asset into a future‑focused, place‑based neighbourhood.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council appointed CBRE to provide development and regeneration advice, supporting the Council in shaping a deliverable, investable strategy for the site. Advice has spanned development strategy, partnership structuring, planning, funding, and delivery, helping unlock investment while retaining long‑term public value.

An early priority was addressing the constraints of the existing shopping centre and preparing the site for redevelopment. We provided advice on demolition planning, contractor procurement and project management for demolition works valued at £7 million, alongside securing the reallocation of £2 million of Levelling Up Fund grant to enable meanwhile‑use activity and early site activation.

A key milestone was the procurement of a long‑term development partner. Advice supported Bolton Council through one of the first development partner procurements under the Procurement Act 2023, completed in just seven months. In early 2026, a Master Development Agreement was awarded to Federated Hermes MEPC, marking the first time the global investment and development manager has invested in a town centre regeneration project.

The agreed approach establishes a flexible, phased regeneration framework that will allow delivery to respond to market conditions while maintaining a clear long‑term vision for the town centre. The emerging masterplan is expected to deliver new homes, complementary commercial uses including a potential hotel, improved public realm and an active meanwhile‑use strategy during development.

Following appointment of the development partner, further advice has been provided to support the development of a detailed meanwhile‑use delivery plan aligned to planning conditions, ensuring the site contributes to town centre vitality from the outset.

Crompton Place shows how collaborative, long‑term regeneration advice can unlock complex town centre sites, attract institutional investment, and translate strategic vision into delivery, providing a replicable model for place‑led growth.