Bolton Octagon launches new vision for £10m revamp

Bolton Octagon has unveiled the latest plans for its £10 million redevelopment to make the building more accessible for audiences and artists.

In the largest redevelopment in its 50-year history, the Octagon’s building will be enlarged and modernised. The main space will become a flexible auditorium and two multi-purpose studios will be added.

The process will require the demolition of large sections of the current premises, with the extension built around a core section of the building that houses its main theatre.

As a result, the Octagon will close from mid-2018 to autumn 2019, but the organisation will remain in operation and performances will take places in spaces around Bolton.

Artistic director Elizabeth Newman said: “We are so excited to be sharing these new images of our reimagined building… The aim of reimagining our building is to ensure accessibility to all including audiences, participants and artists.

“We will have more spaces available where our young people and community activities can take place, and will enable us to make creative spaces fit for purpose in the 21st century as well as improving the experience of our audiences.”

The plans were first announced in 2015, and architects Feilden Clegg Bradley were appointed to design the project earlier this year.

Planning permission will be submitted in early July and a public consultation on the redevelopment is now open.