Economic Development and Regeneration
The Place Directorate
The Place Directorate is responsible for leading the growth and investment agenda for the borough, driving the regeneration of Town and District Centres; supporting the delivery of new homes and infrastructure; and working with businesses to develop our economy.
We enable a wide range of regeneration and critical infrastructure projects throughout the borough; support people back into work; support the delivery of the Skills Strategy to improve access to jobs and develop key local facilities such as Bolton Market.
Our Planning service administers much of the planning system locally, preparing Local Plans, determining planning applications and carrying out enforcement against unauthorised development whilst our Building Control Service ensure that buildings are designed and constructed in accordance with the Building Regulations and associated legislation.
At the centre of our communities are place-based services that keep our towns, neighbourhoods, and parks and green spaces accessible and looking at their best – services that also support our commitment to act on the climate emergency through sustainable waste management solutions, maintenance and investment into our green spaces, active and sustainable transport, and investment in new technologies.
Our Regulatory Services undertake a wide range of activities that are designed to protect our residents, consumers, businesses, the public and the environment from harm, whilst our Highways and Engineering services ensure that our highways assets are properly maintained, kept safe, and adapt to changing transport needs. In addition, our School Meals Service provides the boroughs children and young people with healthy, balanced and nutritious meals.
Invest in Bolton
Collaboration
Partnership and collaboration remain central to delivery of the Place Directorate’s services and functions; whether that be in relation to cross-cutting projects/initiatives within the council e.g. major developments and district centres’ improvement, digitial transformation, active travel, aggressive begging activity, and collaborative projects and work-streams e.g. tackling the supply of illicit tobacco and vaping products in collaboration with GMP and other partner agencies; enhancing local environmental quality in collaboration with Bolton Green Umbrella and our extensive volunteer network; in delivery of our functions e.g. planning and enforcement; or in delivery of regional priorities in conjunction with GMCA and the constituent districts, TfGM and the Waste Disposal Authority e.g. Clean Air Plan, City Region Sustainable Transport Fund, development and delivery of Northfold (the Wigan – Bolton Growth Corridor) and waste disposal infrastructure.
The Place Directorate Plan for 2025-2028
The Place Directorate Plan contains the cross-cutting or strategic priorities that Place Directorate will lead on in order to progress the Council Plan’s aspirations and outcomes over the next three years.
The Directorate has considered the emerging foreseeable landscape, including the challenge/ opportunity of economic growth and investment, regeneration of the town and district centres, getting to net-zero, supporting accelerated housing development, and responding to AI/ technological innovations; all within our funding envelope; whilst also addressing cross-council demand issues, cost-of living pressures for our residents; changes in customer behaviour following the pandemic; and economic challenges for our businesses and investors.
The Place Directorate Plan has identified its cross-cutting priorities to drive investment and regeneration, support economic growth and resilience, maintain and develop a wellconnected, reliable transport network, deliver carbon reduction activities, provide essential protection for the public, communities, businesses, and the environment through discharge of our regulatory functions and delivery of efficient, effective, responsive and sustainable operational and professional services. In addition, our Plan is focussed on being fiscally responsible, improving performance management, and exploring opportunities for innovation (including new technology).
These priorities have been linked to KPIs and outputs which will be continuously developed for the duration of this plan as we access new datasets and roll out various projects and programmes. We have made a start in identifying the impact and outcomes we anticipate seeing; and these are included in the Plan.