Around £20M worth of funding to transform Bolton town centre has yet to be signed off before the election. In November last year, Bolton was granted the money by the government as part of the latest round of Levelling Up funding last November. This had been meant for projects like redeveloping the town hall and remodelling the Market Place Shopping Centre, but this has yet to receive final sign off with an election just weeks away.
Bolton Council Labour leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “The £20M has not yet had ministerial sign off so we need that before parliament closes down.” He added: “If for whatever reason the minister doesn’t get round to that before the general election then we will look to the new incoming minister, who we will believe will be a Labour minister. The area around Bolton Town Hall has been set to be redeveloped (Image: Newsquest) “That will be Angela Rayner and will be looking to her to sign off that round.
“It’s money that’s been allocated for the areas around the Market Place and Le Mans Crescent so we desperately need that funding.” Bolton Council’s funding bid for these areas had first been rejected in early 2023 when the government announced its second round of Levelling Up funding allocations. The first round had financed a range of projects all around the country including for the Bolton Institute of Medical Sciences, now being built on the grounds of Royal Bolton Hospital.
But in a surprise move last November the government then.
