THE "sensitive" demolition of redundant industrial buildings will be the catalyst to a major redevelopment of an historical part of Bolton, according to a developer.

Charles Topham Group, based at Deakins Business Park, in Egerton, has already begun work to transform disused warehouse buildings, in River Street into a series of new office blocks called Merchant's Place.

Work is underway to convert two buildings into new office space. Builders will also create a glass atrium to connect the buildings.

Careful planning and co-ordination between Manchester-based demolition specialist J Freeley and Charles Topham Group has been key to the demolition stage of the £21 million project. Some buildings were completely demolished, others partially demolished.

The end result after further building work will be a modern office development of more than 100,000 sq ft. This will incorporate architectural elements of the existing industrial buildings, parts of which date back to the 18th Century.

In addition to demolition, the project involved shoring up parts of the old buildings and façade retention.

Charles Topham Group's senior projects manager Mike Crawshaw said: "It was a complex demolition job as the more important parts of the buildings had to be untouched during the demolition to allow them to be incorporated into the newly built development. "This project marks the start of a major renovation of this prominent site on the edge of Bolton town centre. The finished development will be a sophisticated and eloquent addition to the commercial architecture of Bolton, thanks to the sympathetic redevelopment of the existing fabric of the historic buildings and the incorporation of contemporary architecture."