Previous Consultations
Bolton Local Plan ‘Direction of Travel’ – Regulation 18
We are preparing a new Local Plan for Bolton. A Local Plan sets out where new homes, jobs, community facilities and green space should go, and how the borough will grow up to 2042.
The Local Plan ‘Direction of Travel' consultation ran until 22 January 2026 and was the second Regulation 18 stage of consultation.
It set out the overall ambition for a healthier, greener and better-connected Bolton, and presented early spatial options for where new homes and jobs could be located. It also set out initial themes and areas of focus to guide the more detailed policies which the Local Plan will include. It was an important point where responders could help us make choices and shape a strong planning strategy before the full draft Local Plan, with detailed policies and site allocations, which will be published for consultation in Summer 2026. Anyone could respond and give their views.
Read the Local Plan ‘Direction of Travel’ consultation document (PDF)
Documents relating to the local plan Direction of Travel consultation were available to view in the One Stop Shop and all borough libraries.
Sustainability Appraisal
A draft Sustainability Appraisal was also published. This assessed the likely social, environmental and economic effects of the options in the Direction of Travel and helped to ensure thart the Local Plan is based on sound evidence and considers impacts from an early stage.
Interim Sustainability Appraisal (PDF)
Drop-in events to talk to a planning officer
A series of drop-in events relating to this consultation were held at locations around the borough, where the Local Plan ‘Direction of Travel’ document and exhibition could be viewed, with the opportunity to ask questions and speak to a planning officer. Various sessions were held in December 2025 and January 2026 at Bolton Market, (9 December) Horwich Leisure Centre (9 December), Westhougton Hub (15 December), Leverhulme Park Community Leisure Centre (13 January), as well as 2 sessions at Farnworth Leisure Centre (11 December and 15 January).
The consultation closed on 22 January 2026.
Draft West of Wingates Masterplan SP
From 27 November 2025 to 22 January 2026 a consultation was held on the Draft West of Wingates Masterplan SPD.
Issues and Options
The Issues and Options consultation, which ran from 21 August to 2 September, was the first of three chances for stakeholders to have their say on the local plan. This consultation enabled us to:
- explain how the local plan process works
- give you a clear overview of the main topics and challenges and
- hear your thoughts at this early stage through a short survey
The Issues and Options paper can be found at Bolton Local Plan Issues & Options. Full details of what was included in the consultation can be found at Local Plan: Scoping Issues and Options.
Call for Sites
Our call for sites ran from 4 March to 15 April 2025 inviting landowners, developers and residents to put forward sites that could have potential for future use. In total, we received over 100 formal submissions. Additionally, since the close of the Call for Sites we have received further sites
The types of sites submitted covered a wide range of uses, including:
- housing
- employment land
- recreation and leisure facilities and
- green space and environmental improvements
We will shortly publish a map of the sites received here.
It is important to note that a submission does not guarantee that a site will be taken forward in the local plan. Currently, all submissions are being carefully assessed against planning criteria to understand their suitability.