PLANS for a huge sheltered housing complex for older people close to the centre of Little Lever will be decided on this week.

Bolton At Home housing association plans to build 62 apartments and six bungalows on land at Dearden Street and Lever Street as an ‘extra care building’.

The complex, called Lever Gardens, will be part two-storey and part three-storey building.

It will also contain a bistro and communal areas for the residents.

The site was formerly a 24 unit sheltered housing scheme, but is currently vacant having been cleared of previous buildings in 2019.

The plans reveal that most of the flats will have balconies and a large communal green area is part of the plans.

All the bungalows will have back gardens.

A planning report states that the development will result in the loss of trees from the site, notably a willow on the Lever Street frontage.

33 parking spaces are proposed for the extra care facility with one each for the bungalows.

Although the site is owned by Bolton at Home, Bolton Council have made a capital contribution to the scheme and will provide some care element at the complex if it is approved.

The planning report, states: “The building has been designed in a U shape with a central section facing onto the car park and two wings at either side, one facing Lever Street and the other Dearden Street.

“This will create a central, private garden area to the rear of the building, which will benefit from natural surveillance from the overlooking apartments.

“Access to the gardens will be from the ground floor communal lounge at the rear of the building.

“Each apartment will have either a private balcony or for ground floor units, a private patio area.”

One letter of comment was received from a neighbour, raising issues of concern over the flow of traffic and that if the bistro is to be open to members of the public this will increase traffic to the site.

The report concludes that the development ‘will provide a much needed development within the Little Lever area’ and recommends that members of the planning committee approve it.

The plans will be decided on at a meeting on Thursday, November 12.