Car dealer AA Performance plans to create a six-storey building off Thynne Street, Bolton. It would feature purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on the upper levels and a replacement showroom on the ground floor.
The new and used luxury car dealer has applied to Bolton Council for outline permission to redevelop the single-storey site. Sedgwick Associates is advising AA Performance on planning and Form Architects is leading on design.
Proposals for the Bolton PBSA scheme includes the delivery of self-contained studios in the form of an H-shaped block, complete with a bed, desk, toilet and kitchenette. One studio on each floor is larger and designed to be accessible for wheelchair users.
Residents would also have access to the shared facilities including a common room, gym, laundry room and private dining room. Amenity space is provided in two courtyards at the first-floor level. There is also good access to public open spaces, such as Queens Park, Leverhulme Park, and the Croal Irwell Valley Country Park.
Provision is made within the site for cars to drop off students, accessing the drop off area from Thynne Street and exiting onto Foundry Street. There would be a secure cycle store on the ground floor but no student car parking on the site.
Bolton Council accepts that parking provision is not essential where there is good access to town centre facilities and public transport, as provided in this case by the proximity of the bus rail interchange and town centre shops.
Future residents would benefit from being within one kilometre from Bolton University. A Sainsbury’s superstore is 480m away and the bus/railway interchange is within 500m.
Bolton Town Centre extends as close to the site as the roundabout at the Thynne Street/Orlando Street junction, just
100 metres away, with the heart of the shopping centre being just north of the bus/rail interchange.
From the assessment, the planning consultants, Sedgwick Associates, conclude that the Bolton PBSA site is in a very sustainable location. The site has good pedestrian and cycle access to the university, shops other services, and the modern bus/rail interchange has frequent electrified rail services south to Manchester and west to Preston and Wigan.
