Local residents, businesses, developers, and anyone with interests in the town are asked to help shape Bolton’s Local Plan.
Councils across the UK are required to develop a Local Plan, identifying how each area will meet the growing need for new housing, employment space and public services.
Consultation is now open to collect feedback on a preliminary outline of Bolton’s Local Plan, known as the “Issues & Options” stage.
This initial document outlines the ambition for the borough to deliver local priorities and ensure community needs are met for the next 20 years.
The final plan will set out a framework to guide development and make Bolton a better place to live, work and do business for generations to come.
It will create environments that better support health and wellbeing, business and job opportunities, modern housing and services that meet local needs, while also protecting our heritage and cultural assets.
Once adopted, the final plan will help streamline planning application decisions, and provide a legal basis for challenging proposals that are not in the public’s interest.
Bolton’s new housing targets to meet forecast population growth are detailed in the wider Greater Manchester Places For Everyone structural plan.
Consultation is a legal requirement for the Local Plan.
This first stage is asking for feedback on the plan’s ambitions and objectives.
Further consultation is planned later this year with more details on the direction of travel on policies, including for specific development sites.
The final stage of consultation takes place in 2026, after which the plan will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate.
Only respondents to the first and next stages of consultation will be able to make personal representation for appeals to the Secretary of State, although everyone is encouraged to give written feedback throughout consultations.
Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, said:
“I can’t express how important the Local Plan is to the future development and success of Bolton, and I urge everyone to read it and give us their views on the proposals.
“We are at the early stages of plan making, but the Local Plan will help transform the face of our town, providing new homes, leisure and recreation spaces, and areas for people and business to prosper.
“It is your opportunity to tell us what the Local Plan should contain and the overall strategy for where new homes, services and jobs should be located.
“If you don’t tell us what you do and don’t want on your ‘doorstep’, we will have less power to challenge developers’ proposals which may affect you and your community.”
The Issues & Options document can be viewed on the council website before completing the online survey.
Printed copies are also available at local libraries, Bolton One Stop Shop, Farnworth Town Hall and on request, by calling 01204 334875.
The survey closes on Wednesday, October 1.