The Changing Face of Bolton

08/01/2024

Russell & Russell has deep roots in the North West of England. We are very proud of our past, and our firm enjoys a long history of providing quality legal advice and representation to people in the local area and the wider UK.

Our History

Russell & Russell’s origins date back to 1887, when William Russell set up his legal practice in Bolton. The son of a local timber merchant, William quickly gained a reputation for being an open, honest and fair legal practitioner.

A public-spirited individual who was an avid supporter of local charities, William Russell also contributed greatly to local affairs. This culminated in his election as MP for Bolton in 1922, which he won with a majority of 6,000.

When his younger brother, Walter, joined the practice in 1898, Russell & Russell was born.

North West Law Firm

Although the firm is no longer in the hands of the Russell family, the values upon which Russell & Russell are founded underpin our approach to the provision of legal services today.

Russell & Russell still provides friendly, professional advice in the manner of a traditional high street law firm, but this is now blended with a 21st-century approach.

Russell & Russell’s practice now incorporates nine offices stretching across the North West; three in Bolton and one in Atherton, Bury, Chester, Farnworth, Horwich, and Middleton. We pride ourselves on being a regional firm, although a number of our departments service clients throughout England and Wales.

Bolton is a very different place now from how it looked to William Russell in the 1880s. However, our law firm has adapted successfully and grown organically to expand in size and depth so that the legal services we provide reflect the changes we see in society today.

In this blog, we look at some key statistics about Bolton from the 2021 Census and consider how Russell & Russell assists in meeting the legal demands of local people in the North West and beyond.

Population of Bolton

According to the 2021 Census, the population of Bolton now stands at almost 300,000. Figures show that the population of Bolton was 296,000 in 2021, an increase of 6.9% from the previous Census of 2011 when the population was around 276,800.

Bolton’s population increased by a higher percentage than the overall population of the North West (5.2%) but at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 6.6% since the 2011 Census).

In 2021, Bolton was home to around 15.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land, compared with 14.1 in 2011. This area was among the top 30% most densely populated English local authority areas at the last Census.

Rental Market in Bolton

There has been a rise in private renting in Bolton over the last ten years. Census data showed that 18.0% of Bolton households rented privately in 2021, up from 13.7% in 2011.

The increase in the percentage of privately rented homes was greater in Bolton (4.3%) than across the North West (3.9%, up from 15.4% to 19.2%). Across England, the percentage increased by 3.6%, from 16.8% to 20.5%.

House Prices in Bolton

This increase in people opting for rental properties might be largely attributable to rising house prices in Bolton. According to the online data analytics site Plumplot, the average property price in the Bolton postcode at the end of December 2023 was £204,000, up from £132,000 in 2011.

The average price of a newly built property in Bolton at the end of last year was £113,000. There were 3,600 property sales in 2023, and most properties were sold in the £100k-£150k price range, with 904 (24.8%) properties sold, followed by the £150k-£200k price range with 845 (23.2%) properties sold.

Early indications are that property prices might drop in 2024 as high interest rates force sellers to cut prices.

Conveyancing Solicitors Bolton

Russell & Russell has a well-established team of conveyancing solicitors who can assist with property sales and purchases. 

We have retained the traditional values of the high street to serve our local community, and now also undertake work throughout England and Wales as news of our reputation has spread. We’ve also embraced technological advancements to improve efficiencies and the speed of transactions.

Our successes are based on the service we deliver, and that is the result of the dedication and skills of the people who work for us and would be working for you.

If you are looking for a conveyancing solicitor to help you with a residential property transaction, please call us on 0800 103 2600 or request a call back.

You can find out more about our conveyancing services by clicking here.

Family Life in Bolton

Another change since the previous Census in 2011 has been a drop in the number of people in Bolton choosing to get married or enter into a civil partnership.

Between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of adults in Bolton who were married or in a civil partnership decreased from 46.7% to 45.6%. However, this was less significant than the drop in some nearby areas. During the same period in Wigan, the percentage of adults who were married or in a civil partnership decreased from 47.6% to 43.8%.

The percentage of adults who had never married or registered a civil partnership in Bolton increased from 33.6% in 2011 to 36.6% in 2021, while the percentage of adults who had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership decreased from 9.6% to 9.1%.

Family Solicitors Bolton

As family dynamics evolve, it becomes increasingly important for couples to stay informed about their legal rights and responsibilities. Couples who are considering getting married may benefit from a prenuptial agreement, which sets out the ownership of their respective assets should the marriage fail.

The myth of common law marriage has long since been debunked, and cohabiting couples have no added protection under the law. Instead, couples who choose not to marry or become civil partners must take certain steps to protect themselves legally. 

Cohabitation agreements set out arrangements for finances, property, and children should a relationship between an unmarried couple break down and ensure you are protected under the law.

Whether you are planning to marry, thinking of cohabiting or looking to protect yourself legally by making a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney, Russell & Russell is here to help. 

Our family department offers advice and representation on all aspects of family law, including divorce and finances, separation, cohabitation and prenuptial agreements, social services involvement, domestic abuse, change of name and children law issues, such as child contact and child relocation.

All Russell & Russell’s family solicitors are specialists in their field and adhere to the Resolution code of conduct. They can guide you through the complexities of family law, helping you make the right decisions to ensure you and your family’s well-being.

Private Client Solicitors Near Me

Our private client solicitors can advise on all aspects of Wills and probate and have extensive experience in will writing, probate and asset management. We’re accredited by the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme, which sets the benchmark for best practice and transparency in the provision of wills and estate planning services.

Also, all the department’s solicitors are qualified members of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), an independent organisation of legal advisers who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

Solicitors in Bolton and the North West

Russell & Russell Solicitors operates from nine offices across the North West region. In addition to its head office in Atria, Spa Road, Bolton, the practice has offices on Newport Street in Bolton, as well as in Atherton, Bury, Chester, Farnworth, Horwich and Middleton.

We specialise in various areas of law, including:

• Conveyancing.
• Family law.
• Wills and probate.
• Personal injury.
• Criminal defence.

Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. By giving that little bit extra, we aim to develop long-term relationships with clients.

And, because anything can happen at any time, we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To speak to a solicitor or to arrange a free, initial consultation with one of the team, call Russell & Russell on 0800 103 2600 or request a call back.

Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.