An 'aesthetic clinic' offering facial and hair treatments that was set up out of a Bolton garage without planning permission has been approved.

The Sculpted by Doctors clinic was set up by Dr Bilal Malik out of a garage on Whitsters Hollow in Smithills.

Dr Malik appeared before a meeting of Bolton Council’s planning committee to make his case for the clinic.

He said: “I recognised that I could use this space, I needed it to be a bit more presentable.”

He added that over time the garage “evolved into this little place for my work.”

The Bolton News: The plans were lodged retrospectivelyThe plans were lodged retrospectively (Image: YA Architectural Services)

Dr Malik, who also works at Royal Bolton Hospital, told the committee that he had not heard direct complaints from neighbours about how he had been using the garage.

Taking questions from members, Dr Malik confirmed that most of his clients were women and that appointments tended to average between 15 and 40 minutes.

But Cllr Susan Priest, who represents Smithills, said she had heard of various complaints from people nearby, with seven letters of objection having been sent in and one letter of support.

Cllr Priest said: “These objections should come as no surprise to the applicant, who submitted this application only after objections from residents.”

She added: “The application is wholly out of keeping with a residential cul-de-sac.”

There were also concerns raised about the possible loss of parking spaces on the street.

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Cllr Roger Hayes, also of Smithills, said: “Before this development there were two spaces in the garage and two spaces in front of it, I make that four.

“There are now only two, I make that a reduction in off road parking.”

He added: “Assuming clients come by car and occasionally because they are mostly females we could have chaperones present there could be four cars.”

But the committee members heard how Dr Malik’s business was already up and running, despite the application having been retrospectively made.

Cllr David Grant, of Horwich South and Blackrod, said: “For me this is just a planning decision to effectively allow a business an extension to what it already does.”

The planning committee members ultimately voted to approve the scheme.