Bolton’s Crumbling Schools and Overstretched Hospital Get £54M Lifeline in Dramatic Turnaround
A major government funding package will see every school in Bolton benefit from a share of £54 million to address urgent maintenance issues, while Royal Bolton Hospital will receive £4.7 million to upgrade ventilation and energy systems. The funding is part of a wider £125 million national programme aimed at improving public sector buildings, including schools, hospitals, ambulance sites, and mental health units.
Eight schools across Bolton will receive critical upgrades to prevent closures and ensure student safety. Projects include heating system replacements at Tonge Moor Primary Academy and St. James CofE, roof repairs at St. Bede Academy and Ladywood School, fire safety work at Washacre Primary and St. John’s CofE, and safeguarding improvements at Prestolee Primary. Many of these schools had previously faced risks of closure due to deteriorating infrastructure.
Bolton West MP Phil Brickell praised the funding as a long-overdue step to reverse years of underinvestment in the area’s schools, aligning with the new Labour government’s commitment to improving learning environments and breaking down barriers to opportunity. Similarly, Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi welcomed the investment in Royal Bolton Hospital, calling it a “milestone moment” after years of campaigning for NHS funding.
Nationwide, 116 schools and 42 NHS sites will receive funding to address long-term issues such as crumbling roofs, outdated heating systems, and faulty electrics. The government says the investment will help reduce disruptions and restore pride in essential public services.
