PLANS have been approved to build 17 apartments on a former bowling green behind a Bolton restaurant.

The block of flats is set for land behind the Roka Restaurant, Bradshaw Brow, Bradshaw which was previously the Royal Oak pub.

The application, by developers Avantgarde, is similar to one they had refused in 2019 for access, design, loss of trees and insufficient information reasons.

One fewer apartment was applied for this time and these are now to be accommodated within one L-shaped ‘two and a half’ storey building, rather than in two three storey buildings.

MORE: Fate of doomed half-built Bolton luxury mansions to be decided

Access to the apartments was previously proposed via Back Bradshaw Brow East, along the currently cobbled unadopted road to the park and arboretum, then through a stone wall to the north eastern corner of the application site.

Officers found that unacceptable so access is now proposed via the restaurant car park, from the existing signal-controlled access onto Bradshaw Brow.

Highways engineers raised no objection, subject to the applicant contributing £3,500 towards modifying the staging of the traffic lights.

There will be 22 on-site parking spaces for the development.

As part of the agreement the developers have agreed to upgrade or reinstate the stone steps that lead down to Back Bradshaw Brow which give pedestrian access to Longsight Park and Bolton Arboretum.

MORE: Coronavirus rate for Bolton and rest of Greater Manchester

A planning officer’s report to councillors gave some of the history of the site.

It stated: “The application site comprises a former bowling green to the former Royal Oak pub.

“The site is unallocated within Bolton’s development plan.

“The former bowling green has not been in use for at least 10 years and is overgrown

“To the immediate north and east of the former bowling green is Longsight Park.

“On the other side of Back Bradshaw Brow East is Bolton Arboretum and Upper Bradshaw Valley Local Nature Reserve.”

Planners received 23 letters of objection which raised concerns such as ‘the junction of Bradshaw Brow with Turton Road is already very busy so the development will add to traffic at this junction’.

Other concerns included ‘the junction is already dangerous with visitors to the restaurant’ and ‘the junction is dangerous for pedestrians crossing, especially school children, it will exacerbate this.’.

MORE: Short Bolton walks to enjoy without breaking lockdown rules

Bradshaw councillor, Cllr Jacqueline Radcliffe, said: “The stone steps that lead down to Bradshaw Brow are of great importance to the people living in the area as they enable them to access Longsight Park and the arboretum I’m

pleased the applicant states an intention to upgrade them.”

Members of Bolton Council’s planning committee approved the plans .

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nqnw.co.uk