A BUILDING which used to be owned by snooker star Tony Knowles looks likely to be turned into 16 flats.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Horwich Town Council, though it still has to be approved by Bolton Council's planning committee.

Councillors were keen to stress that the authenticity and character of the Edwardian building -- at the Chorley New Road-Winter Hey Lane junction -- should be retained.

It was built more than 100 years ago to house the first people who moved to the area to work at Horwich loco works.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said: "It is important that the fabric of the building remains as it is because it is a historic building.

"And at the moment it is suffering rather than thriving so it needs this development."

The planning application was lodged by Wiggett Construction.

As the BEN reported, the original plan was to open a pub on the ground floor of the premises, with flats on top.

However, a deal with Wetherspoon's brewery fell through at the 11th hour with Wetherspoon's claiming that the cost of opening a pub -- estimated at around £800,000 -- would be too high for the size of the town.

In light of that, Wiggett Construction decided to use both floors for flats.

Cllr Barbara Ronson added: "We should welcome this because it means there is more accommodation in Horwich and that can only be a boost for everyone."

The building used to be known as Tee Ks club, owned by former world number two snooker star Tony Knowles.

But it has been empty and boarded up for nearly two years since magistrates refused to grant Mr Knowles an alcohol licence after allegations about under-age drinking and drug taking.

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