Foundry demolition paves way for 210m scheme

A 210m mixed-use scheme near Bolton town centre is ready for the off after Manchester contractor J Freeley demolished a former foundry.

The demolition of the 32,000 sq ft building marks the first stage in the development of the 14-acre Church Wharf scheme, a joint venture between Ask Developments and investment firm Bluemantle.

Church Wharf, near St Peters Church and the River Croal, will feature more than 340,000 sq ft of offices, over 230 family town houses and apartments, a cinema, cafs, bars and restaurants, a hotel, shops, pedestrian routes and public spaces.

There will also be a footbridge over the River Croal leading to Churchgate and into the town centre.

The former foundry, on Church Bank, was constructed in 1873 and was known as Booth Industries, later becoming The Wharf Foundry.

It was used for engineering and metal works and in its heyday was a major employer, supplying factories and mills around Manchester.

The building had lain derelict since the early 1980s and became a target for break-ins and theft.

It deteriorated into a dangerous state after parts of the roof collapsed.

Manchester-based Freeley, founded in 1983, liaised closely with the Environment Agency to agree a safe working strategy for dismantling the building, which ran alongside the river.

As well as demolishing the former foundry, Freeley removed asbestos from the site, made good retained party walls to adjacent buildings and boundary walls, installed new fencing, and carried out drainage and tree clearance works.

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Foundry demolition paves way for 210m scheme