Sector: Commercial

Transforming a derelict building to boost the town centre business community
Commercial, Construction

Creating a town centre innovation hub in Bolton

Partner: Bolton Council
Project value: £9.9m
Completion: Autumn 2024

The Wellsprings

Clear Futures is breathing fresh life into a large vacant and disused 1980s Bolton town centre building –  converting the seven-storey structure into a modern and vibrant innovation hub.

The Wellsprings will become a new and valuable mixed-use environment, offering retail, commercial and event space in the heart of Bolton Town Centre, for our partner Bolton Council.

7
storeys
6,111 m2
GIFA
45/45
CCS score

Creating a vibrant space for business

Perfectly located in the heart of the town centre, The Wellsprings will provide a modern and highly flexible working environment, creating an innovation hub for Bolton’s business community. 

A new home for emerging start-ups with accelerator programmes and an ecosystem offering small suites from four up to 36 people located on the upper floors, The Wellsprings will provide meeting and collaboration facilities, ranging from auditorium and seminar spaces to podcast studios and video conferencing booths.

To make Bolton Council’s plans a reality, our Tier 1 contractor, Robertson, will be carrying out demolition works, replacing the roof, and upgrading the heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and telecoms services.

Robertson will also add new flooring, decoration, and furnishing throughout, replace all windows, and construct a bar, booth seating, and modern and flexible workspaces, creating an inviting and attractive environment.

The project achieved a maximum score of 45 when assessed by the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme and assessed against three categories: ‘Respect the Community’, ‘Protect the Environment’ and ‘Value their Workforce’.

Our strategic partnership with Bolton Council

Clear Futures and Bolton Council have been working in partnership since 2019 to boost the town centre’s role as a key player in the Greater Manchester economy. This is coupled with a wider aspiration to attract more high-growth companies that will create the additional jobs, knowledge, skills and technology needed to compete in a global economy.

See what we’ve achieved
Grow-on space for NETPark’s science and tech entrepreneurs.
Advisory services, Commercial, Construction

Strategic Delivery for Durham’s NETPark Phase 3

Partner: Durham County Council

North East Technology Park (NETPark) is one of the UK’s top science, engineering and technology parks, supporting innovative and potentially high-growth STEM businesses on their journey from concept to commercialisation.

Current facilities are world-class and include two catapult centres and three national innovation centres. The Phase 3 development provides 433,800 sq ft of new space which is geared at existing and prospective tenants on the cusp of scaling up their operations.

Durham County Council appointed Clear Futures as a strategic delivery partner to provide the expertise and additional resource needed to drive the project forward. Acting as project manager for the scheme, we have turned the initial project strategy into a solid and successful business case for Business Durham and Durham County Council and will continue to support them through delivery. 

Building occupant needs into the masterplan

Early in the project, we explored ways to build on the success of existing facilities on the science park, looking at everything from wellbeing and connectivity to delivery and distribution facilities. We engaged with tenants to hear first-hand their views on NETPark as a location for their business, their growth plans and need for space, and how that space should be configured. Creating a sustainable design within a healthy, sustainable environment was a clear priority.

Image by Ryder Architecture

The masterplan, designed by Ryder Architects, creates a holistic campus environment defined by high-quality, distinctive and flexible buildings set in a pedestrian-friendly parkland environment. Unit sizes vary and sit alongside a hub building, ancillary facilities, landscaping, sustainable drainage systems and parking.

NETPark building illustration
Image by Ryder Architecture

During design development, we worked with the council’s carbon and sustainability team to ensure the design proposals factor in net zero and BREEAM building standard ambitions and policy, with the expertise of T&T Carbon team.

Phase 3 gets planning permission

By creating the right environment for growth businesses at NETPark, the Phase 3 development will deliver highly-skilled employment opportunities and attract inward investment to the area.