The Wellsprings innovation hub, Bolton
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Summary
Transforming a prominent derelict building into a Bolton town centre innovation hub
Robertson has breathed fresh life into a large vacant and disused 1980s Bolton town centre building – converting the seven-storey structure into a modern and vibrant innovation centre.
The Wellsprings is now a new and valuable mixed-use environment, offering retail, commercial and event space in the heart of Bolton Town Centre, for our customer Bolton Council.
7
storeys
£4.7m
social value
6,111 m2
GIFA
Creating a vibrant space for business – The Wellsprings
Perfectly located in the heart of the town centre, The Wellsprings conversion provides 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 offers 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 team carried out demolition works, replaced the roof, and upgraded the heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and telecoms services.
We also added new flooring, decoration, and furnishing throughout, replaced all windows, and constructed a bar, booth seating, and modern and flexible workspaces, creating an inviting and attractive environment.
Social value
Robertson is dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy in the communities where we operate. The Wellsprings project team successfully engaged local employability, educational, and community stakeholders, ensuring we partnered with groups that benefitted most, including:
- £5.37m project budget spent with local supply chain
- 15.8 local people (FTE) employed
- 1.9 people (FTE) not in education, employment or training given employment
- 221.4 weeks of apprenticeships
- 86.2 weeks of training opportunities
- 408 hours provided to support unemployed people
- 189 hours school and college visits
Delivered in long-term partnership with Clear Futures
The Wellsprings refurbishment has been procured through Clear Futures, through a two-stage tender process.
Clear Futures offers a fully compliant, flexible long-term procurement partnership for the public sector, providing expertise, efficiency, and value.
Clear Futures works with public sector organisations who need a flexible, collaborative partnership to overcome built environment challenges and drive change in their communities faster, smarter, and sustainably.
