Two eight-storey blocks are set to transform opposite ends of Great Moor Street in Bolton town centre.

Planning bosses backed both applications after hearing that the developers schemes would help to regenerate the area.

One proposal, by Monaco Developments, is for an eight-storey apartment block on the site of the former George Hotel.

The other is for a six-storey block, with a penthouse set back at the top of the building, on the former site of the Gregory and Porritts store.

The apartment building will incorporate a number of office units on the lower floors.

Gregory and Porritts moved from Great Moor Street to its new home in Bark Street several years ago.

After the meeting, Fred Bridge, the developer behind the new £7 million building which will be built on the site, said it would have a dramatic effect on the local environment.

"Something of this size is bound to encourage other developments in this area," he said. Cllr David Wilkinson had earlier told the meeting that the development was in the ideal location, opposite apartments at the Old School Rooms and proposed developments at Metrolands house and the former Lido cinema.

A small number of letters had been received by the committee objecting to both proposals on the grounds that the height of the buildings would be out of character with their surroundings.

A representative of Oggi and Washingtons barbers shop, which neighbours the St Georges Hotel, urged the planners to reject the application for the site.

She said: "Apartments will not pull people into this area. We need commercial developments to regenerate this part of town."

But councillors ignored her pleas and over-whelmingly backed the application.

Cllr Linda Thomas said: "This has become a very dowdy part of the town centre and needs something to breathe new life into it."

Senior council officers will now work out the details with the developers.