Plans have been submitted to Bolton Council by the Azhar Academy to transform the former Retreat restaurant site on Chorley New Road into a new religious and education centre. The proposal aims to expand the academy’s current offerings and provide additional space for community, wellbeing, and educational programmes for local children.
The site, which includes the former restaurant premises and the adjacent Newlands building, will not require any demolition or external changes under the current plans. The application focuses on repurposing internal spaces for religious, educational, employment, and community use. The Newlands building is a notable part of the local area, dating back to 1880/1890 when it was originally constructed as a large two-storey detached house within the Chorley New Road conservation area.
The Retreat restaurant closed its doors on 6 September 2025, marking the end of 16 years of trading at the location. The Azhar Academy, which currently operates from the Devonshire Education Centre on Devonshire Road in Heaton, states that the expansion is necessary to meet the needs of the community. The academy’s primary goal is to improve life chances for local children by building confidence and helping Muslim youth integrate with the wider community through improved educational achievement.
Local planning officials are now considering the proposal, which also includes provisions for employment use within the buildings. The project represents a shift from the site’s previous commercial restaurant use toward providing established community facilities for residents in the area.
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