A GROUP of “landmark” former mill buildings on the edge of Bolton town centre could be transformed into 124 apartments, if plans are approved.

An application has been submitted to the council by developer Silverwells Ltd, seeking permission to create the new complex in an island of buildings called Globe Works flanked by Bridgeman Place and Lower Bridgeman Street.

The developer wants to demolish one of the four mill buildings within the Globe Works site and convert the remaining three buildings into residential accommodation in the form of apartments.

If granted, the transformation of the old mills would result in the creation of 10 three-bed apartments, 24 one-bed apartments and 90 two-bed apartments.

In its application, the developer points out that the existing mill buildings are predominantly vacant due to a “lack of demand” for such buildings in their current form.

The specific building set to be demolished is an office block which fronts Lower Bridgeman Street which used to serve the mills.

A spokesman for Neil Pike Architects, which is working on the project, said: “The demolition of this building will result in a much more open feel to the site and provide some landscaping and amenity space — thuds making the proposed development a more comfortable and pleasurable place to live.”

Another significant change to the mill buildings involves a plan to extend the tallest building at the site — which currently stands at six-storeys — by another storey, which the architect says will allow space for eight apartments, which will each have a “dramatic and extensive” view of the moorlands to the North of Bolton.

A spokesman added: “The buildings have remained empty for some time and the proposed conversion of the buildings into residential accommodation will be a positive move forward in maintaining and recycling one of the most prominent land mark buildings within the town centre.”

The application also includes plans to create a safe, off-street car parking area in the basement of one of the buildings — although there are only plans for 20 spaces.

The developer said while this amount is far less than the proposed number of apartments, it does comply with planning policy for town centre sites.