A plan to turn empty offices above a restaurant in Bolton town centre into flats has now been called off.
The scheme would have seen the space above the Shake n Burg restaurant on Bradshawgate turned into new “self-contained” apartments.
Cllr Richard Silvester, of the Queens Park and Central ward had previously said he supported the bid and now says it may well be that fresh plans are put forward with slightly different designs.
He said: "The application was for self-contained flats and sometimes with a planning application the layout of a scheme needs amending or changing with regards to access and room layouts and then a new planning application is submitted with a fresh design.
"I will support any new planning application which is for self-contained flats.
"However it obviously has to conform with any fire safety regulations and other planning requirements.
"I would not support an application for a HMO however."
Cllr Silvester has previously registered his opposition to various plans to create houses in multiple occupation in the same area.
The latest version, put before Bolton Council on Wednesday March 6 this year, reduced this to five flats in the same space.
This would have been in a historic conservation area, but the developers believed that they would still be able to preserve the district’s heritage.
A statement on behalf of Nu Fit Design LTD said: “The conversion would result in residential accommodation on each floor.
“Whilst the building does have a basement no specific works are identified on the proposed drawings in respect of this space.
“Located to the rear of this building it is proposed to erect a bin store with a cycle store.
“We believe that the proposal is in keeping with the conservation area.
“It complements the distinct historic and heritage features of the conservation area.
“The proposal is not out of scale with the plot or any adjacent listed buildings and the area as a whole.
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“The proposal does not in any way enhance or diminish the historic environment, the character and setting of the conservation area.
“Precedents have already been set for other such planning permission approvals within the Bradshawgate Conservation Area.
“These precedents indicate that this current application must also be granted.”
But on Wednesday May 1 Bolton Council announced that the plans had been withdrawn by the applicant.
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