Students from Bolton College are putting their creative stamp on a restoration project, designing the fit-out of two apartments at the Grade II listed Holden Mill – The Cottonworks. 

The team of interior design students are working in partnership with restoration developers, The P J Livesey Group, and the Manchester-based home furnishing store, Housing Units, to assist with apartment designs on the final two floors of the vast 290 apartment building – located on Blackburn Road, in Bolton.

 P J Livesey has been working on the conversion of the former cotton mill for the last five years. As the project nears its completion, P J Livesey has decided to see how students at Bolton College would interpret the distinctive interior and give them an opportunity to showcase their talents to the town.

 Bolton College student, Soonje Kim, said: “This is such a great experience for us – we’re all absolutely thrilled to be involved with the project. The building is such a beautiful place, so we’ve had no problems coming up with some really creative ideas.”

 After an inspirational visit to the redeveloped mill, the students will now produce mood boards containing paint colours, fabrics, furniture and furnishings. The winning designs will be selected in April by P J Livesey director Georgina Livesey and sales and marketing director, Craig Lynch and Nick Fox, merchandise and marketing director at Housing Units.

 The winning design will then be brought to life with the assistance of home furniture store, Housing Units.

 Jillian Watmough, interior design lecturer at Bolton College, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for our HNC students to experience a real life work situation, responding to a brief and to a deadline. It is a great way for them to put into practice the lessons and skills learned in the classroom. 

 "Visiting the site was really useful as it gave us a real idea of the true scale of the building, the height of the ceilings on the fifth floor apartments and the clever layouts. We’re very grateful to P J Livesey and Housing Units for partnering with Bolton College on this project."

 Georgina Livesey, at P J Livesey, said: "The apartments at The Cottonworks are unique with tall living spaces, original columns and covered terraces. We’re always looking to innovate and are keen to encourage new talent.

 “We have been restoring and converting for the last five years and it will be interesting to see how the students approach the space with fresh eyes and ideas. We’re very much looking forward to seeing their designs."

 Nick Fox, merchandise and marketing director at Housing Units, said: “Housing Units is delighted to be involved in this interesting collaboration.

 “We stock a vast range of furniture and furnishings, and it will be really interesting to see how the students interpret the brief and their choices. This real life commission will be invaluable to their studies. I’m looking forward to seeing the room designs and the finished apartment.”

 For more information about Bolton College and the interior design courses available, please visit www.boltoncollege.ac.uk. Further details on Housing Units can be located at  www.housingunits.co.uk. For more information on The Cottonworks, please visit  www.pjlivesey.co.uk  (www.thecottonworks.co.uk.)