The huge national investment was announced by the government earlier this week as part of a bid to build 18,000 social and affordable houses across the country.
In Bolton, figures last year revealed there were 9,000 people on the waiting list for social housing, the investment has been hailed as a “once in a generation opportunity”.
Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “This announcement marks the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, and it couldn’t come at a more important time.
“Too many families in Bolton are stuck in insecure or unsuitable housing, facing rising rents and long waiting lists.
Bolton Council could be one of several local authorities to benefit from the funding (Image: Anthony Moss) “In Bolton, we’re already working hard to build new homes and deliver regeneration that works for local people, from Church Wharf to Central Street, from Farnworth to Westhoughton.
“This new funding will give us the chance to go further and faster.
“This Labour government is taking real action to tackle the housing crisis, and here in Bolton, we’re ready to get spades in the ground.”
The need for housing has been particularly pressing in Bolton where in 2024 council leaders admitted that most of the 9,000 on the waiting list were unlikely ever to get homes.
This came amid revelations that there were around 7,000 empty homes across the borough.
But the £2billion funding is now open to local authorities like the council and to housing associations that are ready to go with construction expected to start by March 2027.
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Bolton has already seen a range of large-scale projects planned for the coming years, including the Church Wharf scheme just off the River Croal in the town centre.
The scheme is expected to include a new hotel with more than 400 homes, while the nearby Deansgate Gardens scheme is expected to create more than 160 new homes.
In December last year the first new residents moved into the £40m Moor Lane scheme, which has built around 400 homes at the site of the old bus station.
Council bosses have said previously that they expected the combined projects to bring in another 5,000 people to live in the town centre over the coming years to boost the economy.
