A vital £19m link road in Horwich remains unfinished and without an opening date more than five years after its planned completion. The two-kilometre route at the Rivington Chase development was granted planning permission in 2019 and is largely built, but a ‘complex legal issue’ over a small section of land has stalled the final phase.
The road was intended to ease congestion on Chorley New Road and at the Beehive roundabout, and will connect Horwich town centre and Chorley New Road to Middlebrook retail park, Horwich railway station and the M61. It will emerge near the Middlebrook Next superstore, close to Bolton Wanderers’ Toughsheet stadium.
Key regeneration benefit
The link road is one of the key public benefits of the Rivington Chase project, one of the UK’s largest brownfield development sites. The scheme, on the former Horwich Loco Works site, will eventually deliver 1,700 new homes along with mixed-use development and extensive public open space. Bolton Council regards the project as one of its highest priority regeneration schemes and a significant long-term investment.
Frustration over delay
Local councillor David Grant acknowledged the years-long delay has caused frustration, particularly for people already living on the estate. He said: “I appreciate the frustration, particularly for those living on the estate. It is a complex legal issue which stakeholders are trying to resolve.”
Land dispute unresolved
In August 2025, it was reported that work on the final section of the road had stopped after a land deal expired. Developer Novo Blue Mantle (NBM) signed a five-year agreement in May 2020 allowing it to finish the road and have it adopted by Bolton Council. That agreement expired in May 2025, and the land near Middlebrook reverted to its previous owners on a 958-year lease.
A year on, talks between the council, NBM and the landowners have not produced a resolution. In a joint statement, NBM and Bolton Council said: “Over recent months, efforts have been made to reach agreement with the owners of the remaining land interests required to complete the final section of the road. Those discussions have not resulted in terms that could be progressed. The council’s preference remains to reach agreement with the landowners, and will seek to continue discussions to this end, but will need to consider all available options to facilitate the completion of the link road. The council remains committed to securing the completion and opening of the Rivington Chase Spine Road as soon as practicably possible.”
Rising costs
The road was originally funded by a £12m grant from Homes England. Construction was disrupted by the Covid pandemic and later by inflationary pressures, pushing the cost to around £19m.
