Still no partner on board to remodel vacant M&S as 'standalone project'

A developer is still being sought to remodel the old Marks and Spencer building in the town centre as a “stand alone project”. This comes with works set to move forward on demolishing Crompton Place ahead of a much-trailed redevelopment project. Bolton Council’s cabinet heard earlier this week how despite the plans for Crompton Place, the authority had still not found a development partner for the former M&S building on Deansgate.

Opposition leader Cllr Martyn Cox said: “It was with some urgency, if I remember rightly last time we met, that this needed to happen. “But from what I gather we don’t have a partner on board to develop this huge asset”. Crompton Place is set to be demolished (Image: Newsquest) The closure of Marks and Spencer has left a large gap on Deansgate since the retailer shut down in April last year citing “changing shopping habits”.

This sparked widespread concerns about the state of the high street. The council first bought the Marks and Spencer building in 2019 for around £15M in advance of its plans to redevelop the town centre. But despite the closure, the retailer did not surrender the lease on the building until March this year.

In response to Cllr Cox’s question, Bolton Council assistant director of regeneration and development Paul Whittingham said there had been discussion with various possible partners. He said that the authority had not been able to bring forward development partners for the old M&S until it was certain about.