A second planning application to overhaul the main entrance at Royal Bolton Hospital is due to be submitted by the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, setting out proposals for a new patient drop-off area and a dedicated wheelchair store.
The patient and visitor drop-off point will move but stay close to the main entrance, with clear signage and wayfinding installed during the works. The wheelchair store is designed to keep mobility support readily available on arrival for anyone who needs help getting into the hospital.
The plans form the second phase of a wider entrance redevelopment. An initial application in May 2026 outlined a brighter, more accessible arrival space with improved facilities and a wider choice of food and drink. Fiona McDonnell, Managing Director at iFM Bolton Ltd, which provides estate and facility services for the trust, described the vision as creating “a more welcoming, accessible and comfortable environment from the very start.”
Work on this phase is scheduled to begin in Autumn 2026 and finish by Summer 2027. Temporary entrance and drop-off arrangements will be clearly signposted throughout construction to maintain access to the hospital. The entire project is being fully funded and delivered by an external specialist organisation with a track record of hospital entrance and retail environments across the UK. The trust’s budget remains unaffected, leaving resources focused on patient care.
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