The council is set to sell three patches of land for around £2 million less than their value in an attempt to secure dozens of affordable homes for the area.

The three patches of land off Avenue Street, Halliwell, Cotton Street, Halliwell, and Roxalina Street, Great Lever, are worth around £3.5 million in total.

Previously, the council approved the sale as a part of its Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP), but this week its cabinet member for property Sue Haworth approved the sale again as a result of changes.

Cllr Haworth did so for around £2 million less than their value, around £1.5 million in total, in an attempt to secure dozens of affordable homes for the area and millions in government funds and GMCA funds.

READ MORE: Bolton: Plan to remove land from Green Belt almost reality.

A report said: "The recommendation is to proceed to secure, in accordance with the council's own policies and strategies, the delivery of housing which will benefit the needs of the communities and ensure the quality and quantity of accommodation."

The planning permission is in place for the land off Avenue Street, Halliwell, where housing association Bolton at Home intends to build affordable homes on a site next to Bolton RUFC, and for the land off Cotton Street, Halliwell, where housing association Great Places intends to build affordable homes on the site of the old Eden Boys School.

It is understood the planning permission is in the pipeline for the land off Roxalina Street, Great Lever, an area of grassland in which Great Places is interested too.

Bolton at Home is backed by almost £2.5 million of funding from the government while Great Places is backed by almost £1.5 million of funding from the GMCA.

But all of this is at risk of reallocation unless it is used by the housing associations within a set schedule.

READ MORE: Bolton: Council accepts offer for land at Moor Lane.

Cllr Howarth said: "Around 150 affordable homes – apartments along with two, three and four-bedroom houses – will be built from this land sale. 

"It is an important decision for the council so that housing providers can reap the benefits of grants from Homes England and the GM Brownfield Housing Fund which have been secured.

"I considered evaluation, valuation and options reports before making the decision to sell land at undervalue. This is justifiable on the grounds of social objectives set out in council policy.

"This land sale provides £1.5m in capital receipts for the council.“        

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.