£30 million retail scheme approved
Warner Estate Holdings, manager of the Agora Shopping Centre Fund, has been granted planning consent for a£30 million scheme to redevelop Bolton's Market Hall, which forms part of the Agora Fund's Market Place Shopping Centre in Bolton.

The scheme involves the restoration of the Grade II listed Market Hall to provide an additional 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of retail space, as well as a separate new building fronting Bridge Street that will house cafes and restaurants. Work on the development is expected to start in summer next year.

Warner Estate manages Market Place Shopping Centre on behalf of the£400 million Agora Fund, its 50/50 joint venture with Bank of Scotland Corporate. The Agora Fund is dedicated to investing and actively managing its portfolio of seven shopping centres in the Northwest.

Warner Estate property director Richard Moore said: 'The restoration of the Market Hall represents a major investment in Bolton's retail future. The scheme will provide much-needed larger units for Bolton, which will fulfil the identified requirements of many national retailers.'

Van Heyningen and Haward are architects for the scheme. Chapman Taylor is retail consultant. Letting agents are DTZ and Tushingham Moore. Gerald Eve is planning consultant.

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