Farnworth is in line for affordable homes after a bid to build on the site of a burnt-down dojo was approved by councillors.

Great Places Housing Group applied for planning permission for the site on St Germain Street towards the end of last year.

At the time there was a disused dojo, which was the old home of Gouldings Martial Arts, but it burnt down on March 16 of this year.

The new home of Gouldings Martial Arts, a UK Centre of Excellence for martial arts, is down the road on King Street.

Great Places Housing Group's application for an apartment block with 36 one-bedroom and two-bedroom affordable homes was up for approval by the Planning Committee this week.

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The application said: "The proposed site is located on St Germain Street and Harrowby Lane. This application is to utilise these plots of land to create an apartment block with 36 units.

"The proposed site is located in a residential area and the design of the apartment block is sympathetic to the surroundings."

There was opposition from residents for reasons ranging from the appearance and positioning of the apartment block to its impact on parking and public services.

The applicant made some changes to the appearance and positioning of the apartment block which councillors agreed were acceptable at the town hall this week.

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Paul Sanders, leader of Farnworth and Kearsley First, said: "It is disappointing the level of parking provision is below the maximum standards, however, the highways officers said St Germain Street is a sustainable location and I think the location is near bus routes, Farnworth Bus Station and Farnworth Train Station are within 10 to 20 minutes' walk, and so I think weight is to be given to the highways officers.

"This development will see an anti social behaviour hotspot and brownfield site brought back into use. The positive impacts in planning terms outweigh the negative impacts so I am happy to approve this application."

The approval is subject to an agreement on conditions between Bolton Council's Director of Place and Great Places Housing Group.

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