Three new stores at Middlebrook

Officers are recommending that councillors on Bolton's planning committee pass the scheme when they meet to discuss it on Thursday.

Orbit Developments have put forward plans for the new units in a car park opposite Asda.

Visitors will also be greeted by a new illuminated sign if the proposals get the go ahead.

The 14 metre long sign would appear at the rear of the new units welcoming people to the Middlebrook Retail Park and will also feature the new Bolton striped logo.

The occupiers of the new stores have not yet been confirmed but, under the conditions applied for, will be either retail-based, a restaurant, take away or cafe or the base for a financial or professional firm.

Planning bosses are also considering a separate application to build a 213 space car parking deck at the front of Asda to compensate for the loss of parking spaces which would make way for the development.

Town centre manager Cathy Savage has raised concerns at the impact the development may have on the town centre but Orbit Development claim there would be no knock on effect.

It follows an unsuccessful campaign by town centre traders to block Marks & Spencer opening a new store in the former Allders building at the out-of-town retail park. The new store is expected to open at Easter.

Planning officer Phil Green said: "The development is considered to be entirely appropriate on grounds of appropriate design, highway safety and parking.

"While the wider promotion of retail uses of out-of-town retail parks should be restricted, on balance given the relatively small scale nature of the proposed development, it is considered justified in retail policy terms and is therefore recommended."

A spokesman for the Emerson Group, agents for Orbit Developments, said: "The two applications will improve Middlebrook for the residents of Bolton.

"Each would be considerably smaller than the other restaurant units within the car parking areas and would result in only 26 parking spaces being lost."