Church Wharf | Ground Investigation

Church Wharf is a landmark £100 million regeneration project at the heart of Bolton town centre. Spanning 7.5 acres, the scheme will transform a key brownfield site into a vibrant, mixed-use destination, delivering a blend of high-quality homes, commercial spaces, and enhanced public realm. 

Once complete, the development will provide 415 sustainable homes, a 130-bed hotel, and a mix of retail, leisure, and community facilities, contributing significantly to Bolton’s wider regeneration ambitions and economic growth.  

We supported Watson Homes across Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Mining Site Investigation, providing input to help manage risk and drive the project forward. 

A key complexity was the site’s industrial legacy, which necessitated a comprehensive Mining Site Investigation (SI) to assess ground conditions and potential risks associated with historical mining activity. These constraints required early intervention to ensure the site could be safely and efficiently developed. 

In addition, the need to deliver the scheme across multiple phases required robust programme management and careful coordination to maintain momentum while ensuring commercial viability and design quality throughout. 

A phased approach was implemented to unlock the site while minimising risk. Early site investigation works played a critical role in identifying and mitigating ground-related issues, enabling greater certainty in design and cost planning.