A property company from Bolton has kick started the new year with a multi-million pound development deal.

MDA, based in Manchester Road, has signed a £5million deal for a 23,000 sq ft residential and office complex in the town.

The company will develop the three-quarters of an acre site in Bury New Road into 12 self-contained office suites and 18 one and two bedroom apartments.

work on the development is due to start in March and will take 12 months to complete.

Entrepreneurs Mark Evans and Stuart Holmes established MDA in 2001 after spotting the business potential of bricks and mortar at the start of the property boom in the 1990s.

The company now owns and manages five commercial sites in the North West, including The Gateway in Manchester Road, Bolton. Its residential property division will build over 200 new homes this year.

In June of last year, Mr Evans called on the towns planners to be more flexible and allow houses to be build on disused business sites.

Mark Evans said: "Bolton is on the brink of one of its most exciting periods of economic growth, thanks to more than £500 million of new companies and developments planned for the town over the next 10 years and the £90,000 rebranding scheme launched last month.

"With more money being devoted to improving the towns public places, transport systems, and leisure and retail facilities, Bolton is really smartening up its act and showing clear signs of becoming one of the most fashionable places to live and work in the North West.

"Local council plans to sink millions into developing key sites to attract new development and help small business expand are still ongoing and, naturally, we are keen to be part of that success."