An affluent and industrious town with great investment potential
There’s a wealth of investment taking place in the Greater Manchester region right now and Bolton is growing as a result.
Nearby Manchester Airport handles around 22 million passengers each year and is one of the largest employers in the north-west. With some 19,000 people directly employed on site, it supports further 42,400 jobs throughout the region.
Bolton’s property market is encouraging, with prices around 35% below the national average. However, they have risen by 1.95% in the last year up to July 2016, and by over 14% over the last five years according to property website Zoopla.
Employment figures in Bolton are promising with unemployment almost back down to pre-recession levels. Statistics show that youth employment figures are rising too with many young people taking up apprenticeships. Aldi, for example, is offering apprenticeships at their two Bolton stores, as well as two others.
The population of the region is currently around 276,800 having risen around 6% in the last ten years (2001-2011). Interestingly there has been a larger than expected increase in the number of children, indicating that there is a growing family demographic.
That means Bolton property investment is ideal for you if you're looking for a property in a major city.
Economy & Employment
With a super-fast broadband scheme underway, Bolton is becoming a very desirable place for businesses.
Bolton still retains some of its traditional industries to this day, such as steel foundries, building materials, paper manufacturing, textiles, packaging and transportation. But many more local businesses are now based in the data processing, hi-tech electronics and IT sectors.
The recently launched £15 million broadband ‘roll-out’ is set to provide vital technology for these businesses, allowing them to be competitive in the global marketplace.
Bolton’s Innovation Zone is a major ongoing regeneration initiative at the heart of central Bolton. It comprises a number of key public sector developments, including the refurbishment of Bolton Outdoor Market, the development of a new Cultural Quarter and many other projects. Overall it is expected to generate around 4,000 new jobs and £300 million private sector investment.
That means Bolton property investment is ideal for you if you're looking for a Manchester regeneration area / a commuter belt property / for your portfolio.
Investment
Bolton has three projects underway with a total investment of around £175 million.
A new £48 million Bolton Station Interchange is set to be complete in late 2016. This development will combine Bolton rail station with the main bus station. The two will be connected by a pedestrian sky link bridge. In addition, they plan a £6.5 million 3,250 sqm Grade A office block, fronting Great Moor Street.
Another local development is Church Wharf. Costing in the region of £120 million this 13-acre site is planned to be transformed into a dynamic mixture of stylish architecture and stunning open spaces. Also incorporated in this scheme will be a new business quarter comprising of over 31,500 sqm of office space, apartments and townhouses. There will also be a 6,050 sqm leisure quarter with an 80-bed hotel, cinema, leisure and retail units.
There are local heritage buildings in the area which will be retained and blended in with the redevelopment alongside extensive landscaping and an eye-catching footbridge over the River Croal.
Transport
Air: Bolton is situated 20 miles by road from Manchester Airport. Its terminals offer flights to over 190 destinations worldwide.
Rail: The West Coast Mainline serves Bolton on the Manchester loop. There are also services operated by First TransPennine Express and Northern Trains to Manchester, Wigan, Southport and Blackburn.
Bus: There is a free shuttle-bus operating throughout the city, which runs every ten minutes during peak times. Local network bus routes are operated by Arriva North West, First Greater Manchester, South Lancs Travel and Maytree Travel.
Road: Bolton is easily accessible by road, with the M6, M60 and M61 Motorways all right on the doorstep
Education
Bolton has 97 primary schools, 18 secondary schools, 6 special schools, 3 further education colleges, 9 independent schools and 1 university in its catchment area.
Notable schools include The Bolton School, an independent day school with a co-educational nursery and infants school and single-sex junior and senior schools. The schools have excellent Ofsted ratings with the girls being at 189 and the boys at 139 in the top 250 schools in the UK.
Further Education: Bolton Sixth Form College is one of the highest performing colleges in the north-west. The college is celebrating another set of excellent exam results, with 97% pass rate at A Level and 100% in vocational subjects.
Higher Education: Around 14,000 students attend the University of Bolton, which gained its university status in 2005. Bolton One is a new £31 million purpose-built campus housing a new sports complex as well as health, science and sports teaching and research facilities. Alternatively, the high achieving University of Manchester is a short journey away.
Shops & Leisure
Shopping & Dining: Bolton is known as one of the north-west’s best shopping districts. With its market town heritage still visible, you can expect welcoming pedestrian streets and a magnificent Victorian Market Hall. You will find all your favourite high street names, as well as quirky antique galleries and craft shops. There is the famous Beales department store on Deansgate in the centre of Bolton, that has been in the town since 1829.
Sport & Culture: Bolton is home to Bolton Wanderers Football Club, The Bolton Bulldogs American football team, as well as the wonderfully-named baseball club, Bolton Robots of Doom!
Green Spaces: Jumbles Country Park reservoir is a very popular area renowned for its stunning views across the reservoir. It is popular with joggers, runners and dog-walkers alike and also incorporates a café area for refreshments and benefits from free parking. Likewise, Moses Gate Park to the south of the region is always a pleasure to visit. Take as long as you want to meander the pathways that weave around the 3 reservoirs the River Croal.
