Bolton council has today revealed its intention to create a ‘super-connected digital city’ under its £1.5bn town centre regeneration plans.
A report submitted to the council recommends the creation of a joint venture partnership as the best method to regenerate the Blackhorse Street area.
If the report is approved, the council said officers “will explore a range of potential joint venture options before returning to Cabinet to progress an ‘open and transparent’ process to establish such a partnership”.
While plans are yet to be developed, Gerry Brough, director of place at Bolton council, defined digital cities as the “transformation of urban areas through the use of superfast, well connected, interactive technologies which provide information and transactional services for the benefit of businesses and citizens”.
The council said the ‘digital city’ is integral to its regeneration plans for Bolton to be a “digital hub for business and people to thrive”.
In 2017, Bolton council revealed its plan to transform Bolton town centre by 2030, borrowing £100m over 50 years to be paid back through dividends.
The regeneration project aims to see 1,800 new homes built in the town centre and 7,400 jobs created, with five strategic sites - Trinity Quarter, Cheadle Square, Crompton Place, Church Wharf and the Croal Valley - identified as part of the blueprint.
The ‘digital city’ development would represent a sixth ‘intervention area’.
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In a report to a meeting of the council Cabinet today, Mr Brough said: “To fully achieve the aims of the regeneration plan, the town needs to be at the heart of the digital economy and become a centre of innovation for existing and new businesses to flourish.
“An investment in digital platforms and technologies is central to business transformations, new products and the attraction of higher value services for businesses.”
In a recommendation to Cabinet, he says the ‘digital city’ can only be achieved by working in partnership with “one or more” commercial development partners with a proven track record of “delivering large-scale, sustainable regeneration schemes, providing digital infrastructure.”
He believed that a Bolton ‘digital city’ would become one of the “preferred locations for global technology leaders at the forefront of innovative digital technologies – many of whom will want to develop close links with local universities”.
The council said it has been in discussion with “key” property owners in Blackhorse Street.
Bolton council leader, Coun David Greenhalgh, said: “Embracing innovation and digital technologies is the best way for Bolton to stay competitive, expand and achieve more for business and the people living and working in the town.
“Investors should feel reassured that Bolton is driving ahead with longer term plans beyond the completion of the five existing development projects, stimulating additional waves of growth and regeneration in Bolton town centre.”