Residents in Bolton, Greater Manchester, are set to benefit from a new £3 billion regional Growth Plan announced on 6 February 2026 aimed at boosting the local economy and creating jobs across 2026/27. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, published the programme as a single-year investment package to target housing, net-zero infrastructure, transport and digital innovation across the city-region.
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council says it plans to use its share of the funding to speed up the redevelopment of the town centre. The borough will also benefit from regional investments flowing into priority zones and programmes, including the Atom Valley innovation agenda — which, as set out in GMCA materials, is a Mayoral Development Zone focused primarily on parts of Bury, Rochdale and Oldham — through shared transport, skills and infrastructure funding. Local officials expect the investment to help finish building projects that were previously stalled by rising construction costs and inflation.
Improvements to local travel are included in the plan, with funding and planning work intended to extend the reach of Greater Manchester’s integrated Bee Network of buses, trams and future tram-train links into more of the borough. The changes are intended to make it easier for residents to get to work and travel to nearby towns. The funding is delivered through a ‘Single Pot’ settlement to the GMCA under powers established by the 2023 Trailblazer devolution deal, giving local leaders greater discretion over spending on housing, skills and transport.
Andy Burnham said the plan is intended to support high streets across the city-region and reduce reliance on central government help. Cllr Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “For Bolton, this means the green light for projects that have been on the drawing board for too long. We are looking at a transformed town centre that serves as a hub for both the new green economy and our traditional manufacturing strengths.” The GMCA says the funding rollout will begin on 1 April 2026. The exact split for Bolton from the £3 billion pot is still being negotiated by GMCA members, with preliminary reports suggesting a direct capital allocation to the borough in the order of £250 million–£300 million alongside wider regional benefits from transport and skills funding.
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