Putting you in the lap of luxury

It would involve the demolition of Carne House in Markland Hill, the home of about 20 local businesses.

Dimple property Ltd, of Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, is seeking planning permission from Bolton Council for 20 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments at the top end of the market.

Carne House comprises Ashleigh - an imposing Victorian residence - and a 1960s offices extension.

Ashleigh was a plain, square brick structure which Ald Charles Wolfenden JP, Mayor of Bolton, bought in 1872 and extended with additional wings, a conservatory and other improvements.

It remained a residence - occupied by local industrialists such as Walter Martin Musgrave and Isaiah Dootson - until 1947.

Three years later it was bought by the North-western Electricity Board as a home for the Commercial Department of their No 2 sub-area.

From 1958 until March, 1972 it was the administrative centre for the Tillotson group before it was sold, for investment purposes, to G. N. Carne Ltd of Bury, translators, shipping and forwarding agents.

Mr Philip Bell, a principal of Dimple Property, said today: "We are in the process of purchasing and obtaining planning permission."

He said that basically the property had come to the end of its economic life and it required substantial works doing to it.

The plan was for it to be demolished, after catering for existing tenants, so that the stylish and comfortable apartments could be built on the acre and a quarter site.

"I am hoping it will be looked on favourably," Mr Bell said.

"It fits in with the existing environment and the quality of the surrounding properties."

It was hoped that they would be able to start the work in about six months' time.

"There are very few developments of this sort in Bolton," Mr Bell said.

"They tend to be on the south side of Manchester."

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