A bold new vision for Farnworth town centre will be drawn up by an urban regeneration specialist.
Bolton Council has appointed BDP as the lead consultant to develop a new masterplan for the town.
BDP, who beat two other competitors to win the contract, also drew up Bolton’s town centre masterplan which was unveiled last year.
The firm will now draw up a masterplan for Farnworth, and will be speaking to local councillors, stakeholders and residents to get their views.
Bolton Council nominated Farnworth for the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Town Centre Challenge – a new initiative which strives to breathe life into areas across the region.
And a multi-million pound redevelopment of Farnworth is already underway.
A £1.9m package, delivered in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, to improve the bus station and the junction of King Street and Market Street is now complete.
Nearby, repaving work on Brackley Street, a £450,000 scheme funded by Bolton Council, is also due for completion in Autumn, subject to weather conditions.
“The aim of the new masterplan will be to unlock further development and identify potential for future investment.”
Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, and Chair of the Farnworth Town Centre Steering Group, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “Farnworth is an absolute priority for us and we are really pleased to select BDP for this work. They have a really strong track record in urban design and planning with a strong knowledge of commercial development.
Commercial agent BE Group will work with BDP and the new masterplan is set to be launched early 2019.