A NEW £100 million shopping, leisure and luxury apartment development in Bolton town centre has been given the go-ahead by planning chiefs.

It will mean the town can reclaim its status as one of the regions top shopping centres, it was said.

Members of Bolton Council's planning committee voted unanimously to give the go-ahead to the scheme which will turn the area around Central Street car park into a bustling mecca of high street stores, cafe bars, restaurants and luxury apartments.

The development would be built behind a revamped Victoria Hall which would have a first-floor balcony from which bands would entertain shoppers in a new public square below.

The leader of the council, Cllr Barbara Ronson, said: "The scheme is much more than just retail, it ensures the future of significant community and voluntary services and refurbishes Victoria Hall, a significant historic building, which remains part of the fabric of Bolton and its people."

Cllr Andy Morgan said: "The architecture of this scheme is aimed at bringing out the identity of Bolton and it will be quite different to other retail developments in the area.

"I believe it will see Bolton become one of the top shopping centres in the region again."

Overall, the proposal would incorporate more than 33,000 sq metres of high street stores, cafe bars, restaurants and luxury apartments.

The St Helena development would also see parts of the River Croal renovated with a waterside walk created to run from the development to Queens Park.

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 Rev Phil Mason, of the Bolton Methodist Mission which owns the Victoria Hall, said: "To combine the work of the church, and cultural facility of Victoria Hall along with the retail, leisure and residential elements, allows us to have a great mix and to develop a living town centre."

The committee granted the outline application but the developers will still have to apply for full permission after ironing out the finer details.

But not everybody is impressed with the plans.

Thirteen organisations - many based in buildings which will have to be demolished to make way for the development - had written to the planning committee objecting to elements of the scheme.

A spokesman for Sweetens bookshop, on Deansgate - one of those threatened - told the committee: "The council should preserve independent shops because once they are gone they are lost forever."

Will Robinson, of Wilson Bowden Developments the company behind the scheme, said: "We have been working closely with Bolton Council over the last two years and are delighted to achieve this major step towards making the Councils long term vision for the Central Street scheme to become a reality."