PLANS for a 95-home estate on the site of a former mill have been unveiled.

Developers want to turn Bolton Road Mill into a new estate with four and five bedroom houses as well as a block of apartments.

Councillors and campaigners said the site was the last piece of land in the town to be replaced by homes during a surge of new home building.

They are now concerned that developers could put pressure of Bolton Council to try and build on the Green Belt around Westhoughton.

Hundreds of new homes which have been built in the town have already put strain on roads and services, they fear.

Councillor for the Westhoughton North ward John Higson said: "It's quite inevitable that this piece of land would eventually be developed.

"The concern now is that, because there is no land left to build on in the town, developers might start to try and build around the edges of the town and in to the Green Belt.

"It seems that they want to build in Westhoughton come what may."

Developers Elite Homes North West have submitted the plans to Bolton Council for the new estate.

Blueprints reveal that, apart from 16 flats and three mews-style homes, the development will be made up of four and five bedroomed-family homes.

The estate would be accessed from Cherwell Road.

Dave Chadwick, chairman of the Save Westhoughton, Act Now group, said: "It's extremely difficult to see how this can be challenged because the land is previously developed and fits all the criteria for home building.

"That doesn't mean I'm not concerned about the implications of this.

"There has been no improvements to Westhoughton's infrastructure in the last 10 years when we have seen a huge rise in population."