RADICAL plans to transform Bolton town centre were unveiled today.

A £100 million scheme to convert the Central Street area into a bustling mecca of high street stores, cafe bars, restaurants and luxury apartments, has been submitted to council planning chiefs.

Images released exclusively to the Bolton Evening News show how the area could look if the proposals are passed.

The development would be built behind a revamped Victoria Hall and feature a first-floor balcony from which bands would entertain shoppers as they mill around a new public square below.

The view above is along Ridgeway Gates towards Deansgate - at present an area of small offices, shops and open-air car parks - which would become an area of pavement cafes and new shops.

Carol Sutton, head of regeneration at Bolton Council, said attractive entrances would link the development with other parts of the town centre.

She added: "This is a vibrant scheme. Bolton is becoming a 24/7 town and this development is meant to reflect that.

"The developers' aim is to make Whitakers department store part of the scheme and to create a walkway for shoppers with shops on either side of it.

"The scheme would provide an architectural balance of the new and the old and the key factor is drawing this scheme into the town centre.

The plans will be considered for outline permission - approval in theory - by planning bosses next week. Overall, the proposal would incorporate more than 33,000 sq metres of high street stores, cafe bars, restaurants and luxury apartments.

Dubbed the St Helena development, the scheme would also see parts of the River Croal renovated with a water-side walk created to run from the development to Queens Park.

Developers Wilson Bowden recruited artists to demonstrate how the development would look. It is hoped up to 28 top chains will be lured to Bolton as a result of the project, with around 150 luxury apartments with roof top gardens being built above the stores.

The St Helena development is just one of many in the pipeline for Bolton's town centre. The Bolton Evening News revealed in April this year that plans had been lodged to build a £35 million glass and steel city-style appartment block on land at Moor lane, Hanover Street and Garside Street. Council chiefs also have plans to develop Le Mans Crescent into a £42 million cultural quarter, while a £1 million project is being developed for Churchgate to transform it into a focal point for social life and festivities.

Cathy Savage, town centre manager, believes the St Helena development will be major addition to the town centre.

She said: "I think this development will help to attract shoppers into Bolton and will be a real boost for the town's traders.

"It is just one of a number of exciting developments and the future is looking bright."

Mark Rycraft, manager of Crompton Place shopping centre, said he would welcome the competition from the new development.

He said: "This area has had years of underdevelopment and I am pleased these plans are for a creative environment which will add to the vitality of the town.

"It will help sustain Bolton as a regional centre, attract high street names and diversify the retail offer."

Leader of the council Councillor Barbara Ronson claimed the development would boost the prosperity of the town centre.

She added: "This will show some of the town centre's detractors that we are serious about its future and that there are people who are prepared to make this kind of enormous investment."