Bolton Central Library bookshelves panorama, Le Mans Crescent, before 2022 redevelopment, BL1 1UA

The Civic Centre on Le Mans Crescent, housing the Bolton Museum, library, health clinics, and courts, was built in 1932–39 to the designs of Bradshaw Gass and Hope. Its plan is slightly asymmetric with end pavilions flanking a shallow crescent. There was previously a police station within the northern half of the building adjacent to the Magistrates' Court. This has been converted to offices although the former cells are still used for holding those facing transfer to prison or awaiting appearances before the court. The building has a steel frame faced in sandstone ashlar with parapets and a slate roof. It has three central arches accessing Cheadle Square. The Civic Buildings are Grade II listed. A £3.7m project to transform Bolton library will see the children’s area treble in size and a new café built. In December 2021 Bolton was offered up to £22M of town’s fund’ government cash in order to ‘level up’ and regenerate town centres. Bolton Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the final plans for the listed Le Mans Crescent building. The work, which will include the installation of a mezzanine floor in the building, is expected to begin in September and take around a year to complete. During the closure period the library will be temporarily housed at Crompton Place shopping mall on the site of the former New Look unit. Sam Elliott, head of libraries and museums in Bolton spoke in support of the plans to the committee.