Opening of key multimillion pound town centre ‘innovation centre’ delayed

Works got underway to transform The Wellsprings, former home of The Bolton News opposite the town hall, into a new space for businesses and digital innovation over the course of 2024.

The project was meant to fully open last autumn but delays have sparked concerns from opposition leaders about the state of regeneration in the town centre.

Opposition spokesperson for the environment and climate change, Cllr Nadim Muslim, said: “It’s really disappointing the way things have turned out what the Wellsprings.

“This is a project that was funded by the previous Conservative government through the town’s fund, but what we’ve seen since is that under the current Labour administration is nothing is really happening.”

The building is intended to be a space for businesses in the digital sector (Image: Newsquest) He added: “What we’ve seen since is symptomatic really of the town centre and the current Labour administration’s attitude towards regeneration.

“It just really worries me how it doesn’t seem to be happening, and I just don’t think this Labour administration is capable of regeneration.”

The Wellsprings building has been empty, since The Bolton News moved to its new home on Knowsley Street in 2022.

It has hosted conferences and business networking events but has yet to full open. 

Works have been carried out across the building’s five floors to create new spaces for offices, mainly for businesses involved in the digital sector.

The Wellsprings is one of the town centre’s key regeneration sites (Image: Newsquest) The works on The Wellsprings had been much trailed over the course of 2024 and have been a key component on the broader regeneration of the town centre.

Council leader Cllr Nick Peel, deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham all visited the site.

Bolton received around £8.5m from the government’s towns fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund to make the project possible.

In July 2023, the council added around £2.85m from its own funds to the project after surveys suggested the building had asbestos present and was neither airtight nor watertight. 

The Wellsprings Innovation Centre was expected to open in September last year but at the time of writing has not yet been opened for business.

A council spokesperson said: “The renovation of The Wellsprings has been completed to a very high specification, delivering quality modern office space for businesses of all sizes.

“There has been very high demand from potential tenants, ranging from small start-ups to well-established local firms.

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“The full opening has been delayed while agreements, relating to operation and management of the space, are concluded. 

“Given the significant level of investment in this project and the importance of Wellsprings as a catalyst for innovation and growth in the town for years to come, it is only right that we are thorough and considered in drawing up legal agreements before the space is leased.

“In the meantime, the building has been in use as a venue for a variety of conferences, business events and networking sessions. 

“We expect that the offices will be at full capacity in the near future, bringing new jobs to the town centre and contributing to the local economy.” 

Source – INDIA TV