Elizabeth Park

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Bolton Council announced plans to build a new ‘pocket park’ in the late monarch’s honour. The new green space was planned to sit on the site of the former Odeon Cinema on Ashburner Street and was developed with support from central government Towns Fund.

The Elizabeth Park scheme is a key asset to Bolton Council’s ambitious plans to reinvent the town centre and is the first new park in Bolton for over 100 years.

As a local business and long-standing delivery partner for the council, Bethell was initially approached to engage in ECI with Bolton Council on the back of recently completed works as part of the Bolton Town Centre Development Plan and we were subsequently awarded the works to construct the new park. The scope of works for Elizabeth Park included:

All works on the project were delivered by our dedicated Site Management Team and skilled, experienced, in-house operatives.

Through our long-standing association with Bolton Council, Bethell has developed a collaborative working relationship with the client and is seen as a trusted key delivery partner for Bolton Council. As a result, Bethell provided the client with the confidence that our team would take ownership of our work without the need for client-led assurance.

Planning and design were completed in collaboration with Bolton Council and their design partners, with Bethell as Principal Contractor carrying out the works. The park was designed with inclusivity at its heart ensuring accessibility for all by utilising flush levels throughout the scheme.

We planned and designed the project with sustainability at its core with Elizabeth Park featuring Sustainable Drainage Solutions (SuDS) and permeable ‘Drainjoint’ block paving to allow rainwater to soak through and be collected in a below-ground attenuation tank.

As the project interfaced closely with the public, we ensured regular and considerate communication was delivered to the public throughout, along with daily checks to monitor the security of our site area and compound.

The park’s landscaping was designed to provide all-year-round visual interest for both the community and wildlife with a wildflower meadow seeded and ready to bloom in the summer months for visitors to enjoy and providing a habit for bees and insects to thrive.

Thanks to our existing presence in Bolton's town centre delivering public realm upgrades along Ashburner Street and Blackhorse Street, we quickly mobilised and utilised surplus materials from previous schemes, saving on material costs. Work was completed in close liaison with Bolton Council, with the client project manager visiting our compound weekly to engage in progress and risk reviews.

To provide a standardised aesthetic across the town and reduce future maintenance liabilities, the park entrance façade was designed to feature a similar stone to the historic architecture of the nearby Le Mans Crescent and Town Hall, whilst Bethell used the same street furniture from the Ashburner Street upgrade completed by Bethell and other regeneration projects in the town centre.

Bethell installed information boards showcasing the park’s potential for biodiversity, history, and waypoints to other significant locations in Bolton town centre, offering an enhanced community experience.

Towards the end of the scheme, Bethell welcomed pupils from four local primary schools to get involved with planting new bulbs. Representing their school’s Eco-Schools club, the pupils learnt about the sustainable design of the park and the long-term environmental benefits it will provide before being given seeds to take home and plant in their gardens.

The completed park has received positive feedback from the client and members of the Bolton community and will serve as a key green space for the town for years to come and as a fitting tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

CECA 2024 North West Awards Dinner - Project of the Year (£1m-£5m)

The Elizabeth Park scheme was recognised as an outstanding project by our industry peers winning the prestigious Project of the Year Award (£1M to £5M) at the 2024 CECA North West Annual Awards Dinner.

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