Rivington Chase link road plans remain a priority – Bolton Council

The road was proposed to link the Horwich Loco Works estate and Fettlers Way, Middlebrook – a way of offsetting the up to a thousand new houses planned in the area.

But work on the road has stalled in recent years, delayed by ‘ongoing legal issues‘.

The crucial link road has still not been opened to the public (Image: Newsquest)

The link road from Crown Lane through to Aspinall Way behind Middlebrook at the Rivington Chase housing scheme has been much debated, delayed and discussed in recent times.

Bolton Council stated: “Rivington Chase remains one of Bolton Council’s highest priority regeneration projects and represents one of the borough’s most significant long-term investments.

“The wider masterplan will deliver approximately 1,700 new homes together with supporting mixed-use development, transforming the former Horwich Loco Works into a sustainable community with new homes, employment opportunities, community facilities and extensive public open space.

“Significant progress has already been made across the site through the successful delivery of new homes and key infrastructure. The completion of the Spine Road alongside the development will provide an important road link from Horwich to Middlebrook with a new bus route and pedestrian and cycle-friendly paths. This will address existing and future highways issues and congestion in the area.

The road will be crucial to helping to reduce traffic (Image: Office of Phil Brickell MP)

“The council remains committed to securing the completion and opening of the Rivington Chase Spine Road as soon as practicably possible.

“Over recent months, efforts have been made to reach agreement with the owners of the remaining land interests required to complete the final section of the road. Those discussions have not resulted in terms that could be progressed.

“The council’s preference remains to reach agreement with the landowners, and will seek to continue discussions to this end, but will need to consider all available options to facilitate the completion of the link road.”

Chris Green MP on site at the new road (Image: Office of Chris Green MP)

It was reported in May 2024 that the spine road was ‘nearing completion‘, though since then, little progress has been made.

“It should be completed in August,” said then-MP Chris Green, “but it may take a little longer than that to open to the public.”

The £262M Rivington Chase masterplan aims to regenerate the Horwich Loco Works site with around 1,700 new homes built across four phases.

The site wide masterplan was agreed by Bolton Council’s planning committee back in 2017, after a supplementary planning document was put forward in 2012.