A new canal side café is to be built close to an emerging housing development in Little Lever, Bolton. Watson Homes have been given planning approval for the hospitality development on land between Mytham Road and the Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal.
Bolton Council have given the go ahead for a single storey canal side café, parking, outdoor seating and nearby landscaping. The plans also proposed the narrowing of the canal nearby.
The café will be close to the Watson 300-homes Creams Mill development which is currently under construction. The demolished mill area being developed is set between the canal and the northern bank of the River Irwell close to Moses Gate Country Park.
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Watson said in the application that the café would support the equivalent of four full-time jobs. A spokesman for Creams Mill Bolton, said: “A café is coming to Creams Mill.
“We submitted plans in April which have now been approved. “The café will provide the perfect meet up spot for friends and family and an opportunity to meet fellow residents.
“Just off the canal, the café will feature outdoor seating for customers to embrace the natural scenery at Creams Mill. “Along with construction career opportunities, we are also creating hospitality employment opportunities for the community.”
The canalside cafe will be next to the Creams Mill housing development
Despite Bolton Council refusing planning permission for the housing scheme, Watson won an appeal with the planning inspectorate approving the plans in early 2023. Watson argued the project was a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to restore the canal and, along with delivering affordable homes, that proved a case for the ‘very special circumstances’ required to justify development in the green belt.
The project has since been short-listed in the ‘Best Housing Scheme (fewer than 500 homes)’ category at the Planning Awards. Five parking spaces will be created for café users and suggested opening times would be between 7am-10.30pm and 8am and 6.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays.