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People have started moving into Bolton’s newest town centre development. The £40M Moor Lane development has been built over the site of the town centre’s old bus station and is made up of more than 200 new homes . The development is close to Bolton Market and Le Mans Crescent as well as being close to the new Reside estate agent branch which opened towards the end of last month.
One of Moor Lane’s first residents, Catherine Mulligan, said: "When I was looking for my new home I wanted to move to a convenient location, and this apartment is perfect. “Everything I need is on my doorstep, including a lovely park where I walk my dog. The first new residents have been moving in (Image: Freshfield) “It has been great to meet some of my neighbours and there is a real sense of community.
" The scheme, made up of 214 homes, was jointly developed by Bolton at Home and Step Places in partnership with Bolton Council . The project was designed by AEW Architects while Wigan based AEDI Construction was the contractor on the scheme. It features a mix of open market flats, rent to buy, homes for people over 55, and general needs affordable housing.
The development also features new public realm works and artisan shopping spaces. New resident Christopher France said: “I'm so pleased with my flat, the view from my place is fantastic. “Its central location is brilliant and everything I need is within walking distance.
” The development includes more than 200 new homes (Image: Freshfield) The homes, which were designed to be energy efficient were filled after being advertised on Bolton Council’s lettings system with a policy aimed at economically active applicants. Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “Moor Lane is the perfect example of the council’s town centre masterplan in action, an underused brownfield site has been transformed into a vibrant new neighbourhood with a wide choice of housing to suit all needs. “Moor Lane’s new residents will enjoy even more examples of successful regeneration right on their doorstep, including the newly renovated Central Library, Elizabeth Park, and the upgraded Bolton Market.
“Residents will join their neighbours at Deansgate Gardens, Church Wharf and other developments in providing a ready-made customer base for town centre retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.” All 82 of the properties managed by Bolton at Home, the borough’s biggest housing provider, have now been handed over and fully let. Bolton at Home group director of development and growth Dominic Conway said: “The significant demand we have experienced for these homes, with hundreds of expressions of interest on each property , shows how vital it is for us to provide more quality affordable housing options in accessible and sustainable locations like the town centre.
ALSO READ: Business opens on multi-million-pound development site ALSO READ: Inside the town centre townhouses at multi-million-pound site ALSO READ: Major scheme for hundreds of new town centre homes 'nears completion' “The development as a whole provides a vibrant mix of housing options for local people and an exciting new town centre neighbourhood that’s supporting Bolton’s wider regeneration. “It’s great to see people beginning to move in.” The Bolton at Home properties include a block of 27 one and two-bedroom apartments for general needs affordable rent.
There is also a second block of 33 one and two-bedroom apartments aimed at over 55s, and 22 three-bedroom houses under the Rent to Buy scheme. Step Places managing director Harinder Dhaliwal said: “We are delighted to be part of such a transformational scheme in the heart of Bolton Town centre, with so many great aspects to this mixed-use scheme this is true place making and would not have been possible without our partners at Bolton council, Bolton at Home and the GMCA.”.
