Housebuilder Bellway Homes has lodged plans with Bolton Council to build 207 family homes as part of the next phase of the £262m Rivington Chase redevelopment of the former Horwich Loco Works.

 

Alongside the new homes, a large proportion of the northern section of the main link road across the site will be built by Bellway as part of this additional phase of development. This link road will connect the different sections of Rivington Chase to Chorley New Road and to Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich Parkway Railway Station and Junction 6 of the M61.

 

In March 2021, planning permission was granted to Lane End Group to develop 116 affordable homes for Bolton at Home and Irwell Valley Homes and Morris Homes are currently on site building 393 houses, including a mix of attached, semi-detached and mews properties as well as six apartments.

 

The Rivington Chase regeneration masterplan was granted outline permission in 2015 for 1,700 homes and associated retail, leisure and open space on the former industrial site. The remainder of the Rivington Chase development will be developed by Bluemantle alongside Bolton Council, Homes England, and HKR.

 

Bellway was the first housebuilder on the Rivington Chase regeneration site and has now nearly completed the construction of phase 1 named Barton Quarter comprising 112 family homes which was granted planning permission in 2018. These new proposals will see an additional 10 homes added as an extension to phase 1 of Barton Quarter and an additional 197 homes to be located north and south of the new link road and adjacent to the heritage core and open space amenities.

 

The proposed 207 homes will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and mews housing, 50 will be 4-bed, 144 3-bed, nine 2-bed and four 1-bed family homes which will complement and enhance the existing key landscape features.

The properties’ appearance will reflect the distinctive red brick appearance of the former Loco Works buildings.

 

The new houses will sit alongside the Community Core, abundant open space and heritage parks to be provided at the heart of Rivington Chase, which will be developed by Bluemantle, with further details to be announced in the near future.

 

George Stevenson, land director at Bellway said,

 

“Careful planning has gone into these proposals to create a high-quality sustainable neighbourhood with designs that reflect the history and heritage of the site.”

 

“Rivington Chase is a truly special development which is transforming a derelict brownfield site into a neighbourhood that celebrates the history and heritage of the Loco Works and provides a destination for local people that will combine community, educational, retail, leisure, health, recreational and well-being amenities.”

 

Mark Caldwell, chief executive of Bluemantle added,

 

“We are really pleased that Bellway is able to bring forward phase 2 plans for further housing which will sit at the heart of the Rivington Chase regeneration scheme. Not only will this create an attractive neighbourhood and provide much-needed family homes in Horwich, these proposals will also accelerate the construction of the link road providing vital infrastructure for the area. We are working up more detailed plans for the heritage parks, open space and community core at the centre of the site and will be announcing these shortly.”

 

Subject to planning permission, work will start in January 2022 with phase one construction of the Northern section of the link road, followed by the house building.  The complete construction of the link road is due to be completed by March 2023 and all 207 homes by the spring of 2028.

 

Apd is the architect behind the scheme, with Cass Associates as masterplan architect and Avison Young acting as planning advisor.