New studio flats to be built in Bolton town centre

Nine new apartments will be built at the site of an empty warehouse

New studio flats are set to be built in Bolton town centre after the developer reached a compromise with the town council.

An empty warehouse in Bark Street East can now be demolished to make way for nine apartments which were granted planning permission by a committee of councillors last Thursday, after the landowner was told the previous plans for 12 flats were not big enough.

Councillors deferred the application in September because the proposed one-bedroom apartments were only 39 square metres, the minimum required to meet national standards.

Town hall planners told the committee that the unit sizes have increased “modestly” to 46 square metres and “suburban” features were removed to match the Georgian properties opposites.

Crompton councillor Hanif Darvesh said these revised plans were “much more in-keeping” with the conservation area it sits in.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington thanked the applicant for “taking notice” of the committee’s comments.

She added: “I welcome this and I think they look brilliant.”