DEVELOPERS want to build an 'urban village' of more than 130 apartments near to Bolton Town Centre.

Plans have been submitted that could see the three apartment blocks built on the site of the Chorley Street Car Park.

There are also plans to demolish a building known as Minerva House, which used to house the council’s parking services team.

The location has a previous planning permission for up to 65 dwellings but developers Bolton Site Ltd want to expand on this and create what they call an 'urban village' close to the centre of Bolton.

If accepted, the plans would see two six-storey apartment blocks and one five storey block built on the 2.1 acre site — consisting of mainly two-bed flats as well as some three-bed and some one-bed units.

With the site lying next to the River Croal, the developers are aiming to create a scheme with a 'desirable water frontage' with lawned areas and benches.

A spokesman for the applicant said: “The apartments will be of a high quality finish and will be designed to appeal to a diverse population. The proposed development of new homes is more beneficial than the existing permitted use as surface car parking and increasing residential activity in close proximity to Queens Park.

“This will undoubtedly lead to a safer local environment, in comparison to an unsupervised surface car park which is understood to have attracted antisocial behaviour previously.”

Council deputy leader Linda Thomas represents the Halliwell ward where the scheme is proposed to be built and also sits on the planning committee.

She said: “This is a designated development area, it is somewhere we want to see houses built.

“I have not yet seen the plans but will be very interested to see what the developer wants to do — it is a plot of land that hopefully can be made to look very attractive.

“It is important that we do use these types of allocations wisely because it means we can stop encroachment into the green belt elsewhere in the borough.”

She added: “As a member of the planning committee I will be looking closely to see what is being offered in terms of affordable housing as well as other contributions to the local community.”