A major development transforming a Bolton office building that had never been used into housing has now finished.

The block on Nelson Street in Great Lever, known as Lincoln House, had been unoccupied since it was first built 2011 but has now been transformed into 88 new flats, the majority of which will house key worker thanks to an agreement with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

It had originally been intended as an office block but was never used before being taken over by developers One Heritage.

Chief executive Jason Upton said: “To see 88 homes created from a building that has been repurposed and brought to life having sat unfinished and vacant for 11 years, is incredibly pleasing.

The Bolton News: A range of flats of different sized have been plannedA range of flats of different sized have been planned

“I am also excited to reach an agreement with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to occupy 62 apartments for at least the next 12 months, providing housing for local key workers.”

Lincoln House had long been a fixture of the landscape in Great Lever since its completion over a decade ago but has remained empty despite the borough’s increasing need for additional housing.

Permission to transform the unused block into housing had previously been granted by Bolton Council in 2018, despite some committee members having expressed reservations over the lack of space some of the studio flats may have had.

The Bolton News: The flats are spread across five floorsThe flats are spread across five floors

Cllr Debbie Newell, who had expressed reservations about the previous proposals said she welcomed the new development.

She said: “Obviously, I’ve not seen the new flats yet but if they’ve got more space then that’s got to be an improvement.

“We’ve got the university to obviously we’re going to need more of that type of housing but I’m glad to see there’s been an improvement in space.”

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One Heritage took over the building in March 2020 and lodged updated plans to develop it into more extensive housing in October 2021, which was granted last April.

The new housing block now consists of 24 studio flats, 40 one-bedroom flats, 23 two-bedroom flats and one three bedroom flat across its five stories.

There are also 52 car parking spaces and 20 cycling spaces.