A PROMINENT five-storey office building which has been vacant since it was built more than 10 years ago could be converted into 88 flats.

Lincoln House, on Nelson Street, Great Lever, which has never been occupied, is the subject of an application to be decided on later this week by Bolton Council’s planning committee.

The building, which is half a mile south of the town centre, is under new ownership after similar previous plans were approved in 2018 but went ahead.

A planning report to councillors, said: “This proposes the change of use of all five floors of the long vacant Lincoln House office building to form 88 residential apartments.

“The application proposes 24 studio apartments, 40 one-bedroom flats, 23 of the apartments will be two-bedroom and there will be one three-bedroom property.

“A total of 52 car parking spaces, including three disabled will be at the rear.”

Other elements of the plan include new landscaping for the frontage, perimeter planting for the parking area and 20 cycle spaces.

The report adds: “The site is a prominent five-storey office development, constructed approximately 10 years ago but which has remained unoccupied since.

“The area is generally industrial in character, dominated by the large Edbro engineering site to the west but also including some smaller light industrial uses such as the safety goods manufacturer and other units that share the entrance with Lincoln House

“Other neighbours on Nelson Street include a repair garage and the Territorial Army site opposite.”

The report said that one of the policies of the authority was for office space to be built centrally so ‘it would be preferable if this building were not to be used as offices and that future demand for office space were to be directed into Bolton town centre’.

The report said the ‘condition of the property is generally good, considering the period of vacancy, it is not derelict’.

Officers have recommended approval of the scheme, stating: “It would be compatible with the surrounding land uses while providing natural surveillance in the local area, improving the external appearance of the site and there is sufficient car parking

“Significant weight should be afforded to the scheme addressing the housing shortfall within Bolton.”