Property Investment in Bolton
Bolton is a large town in the North West of England. The town is the centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, home to a population of more than 276,000 people, and is one part of the wider metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.
Like many neighbouring towns across the North West, Bolton is a former industrial heavyweight that is once again showing positive signs of progress. Property investment in Bolton has largely been the domain of local buyers, but we expect broader interest (both domestically and internationally) to increase over the coming years.
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Overview
At the height of Britain’s industrial revolution in the early 20th Century, Bolton was a major hub of textile manufacturing. Wool and cotton spinning mills dominated the local area, stimulating growth and development.
Of course, this couldn’t last forever and the decline of the British textile industry led to a period of stagnation for the town. But, Bolton is now enjoying a revival.
A service-based economy has largely replaced the manufacturing past. The local university, The University of Bolton, brings 6,000 students to the town every year. And, with a location just 10 miles outside of Manchester city centre, it’s a popular choice for commuters.
Furthermore, there are extensive regeneration projects in place for both the town centre and the wider geographical area. A £1 billion masterplan covers five mixed-use schemes in the town centre – Church Wharf, Croal Valley, Trinity Quarter, Crompton Place, and Cheadle Square – which will bring new homes, offices, retail space, transport links and leisure facilities.
Meanwhile, there are strategic plans and additional funding in place to spur the development of nearby Farnworth, Little Lever, Westhoughton and Horwich. Over the next decade, the entire region will see unprecedented levels of public and private investment. Capital&Centric, the social impact developer with several famed projects in Manchester, is set to start work in Farnworth town centre, for example.
Why is Bolton a good choice for property investors?
The property market in Bolton is showing exceptional, rapid improvement. A report by Halifax in 2021 suggested average property prices in the town had increased by 16.9% year on year, compared to a national average of 6.2%. This put Bolton 8th in the UK for property value growth.
Meanwhile, data shows that one and two-bed rental properties generate an average yield of over 6%.
And with an average property value of £201,174 (from Rightmove, accurate as of May 2022), Bolton offers accessible, entry-level pricing compared to the major cities nearby, like Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.
In short, it’s no surprise to find Bolton is attracting more and more interest from property developers and investors alike. The regeneration plans are bringing new residential projects from developers who sense the potential in the area, whilst investors looking to diversify their portfolios away from the major cities are starting to look at high-performing towns in good locations, like Bolton.
If you’re interested in property investment in Bolton, get in touch with our team to discuss your options.
Types of Property Investment
Buy To Let In Bolton
One option for investors is purchasing a buy to let in Bolton. Buy to lets are an excellent choice due to the strong rental market and low purchase prices. Data from PropertyData.co.uk shows the average rental value in BL1 is £656 per month.
Tenant demand is driven by a number of factors: good transport links with the rest of the North West, employment opportunities, and affordability (especially compared to Manchester city centre).
In addition, anyone holding a buy to let in Bolton is likely to benefit from long-term capital appreciation and rental price increases as a result of the ongoing regeneration schemes.
Student Property In Bolton
Another option for investors is purchasing student accommodation in Bolton.
However, with a relatively small student population, most of whom come from the local area, and no PBSA schemes in sight, we currently recommend investors focus on traditional buy-to-let units aimed at young professionals over student accommodation.
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All information accurate as of May 2022