ANOTHER piece of Bolton's urban living future has fallen into place.

Rossendale developer B&E Boys performed the "topping out" ceremony at its Renaissance development on the corner of George Street and Kay Street, Bolton.

The company said half of the 53 luxury one and two-bedroom apartments being built in the former Temple nightclub have been sold. They cost between £120,000 and £200,000 and the work is scheduled to be finished by December.

The Georgian building, which was badly damaged by a fire in 2001, has been a textile mill, a foundry, a Chinese restaurant and was the Lion Oil Works.

John Boys, a B&E Boys director, said: "Over the next few years, Bolton is set to become a trendy, up-and-coming place to live.

"This is the first high-specification, quality residential development in Bolton. There is nothing like it and we are delighted to be involved right at the start of something special."

The apartments have been designed by Bradshaw Gass and Hope based in Silverwell Street, Bolton.

David Gibson, a BGH partner, said: "Although the former Temple building is not a listed structure, it is within a conservation area and heritage groups have been consulted about the scheme. The original character of the building has been kept and stonework reused where possible, including an original archway."

Boys beat off strong competition to win the £3.5 million contract from developers Oakhelm Property Ltd to build the apartments.

Chris Neill, northern spokesman for Oakhelm, said: "We chose Boys Construction because of its record of bringing in quality builds on time and on budget as well as its friendliness and reliability. We were happy we could find those qualities in a firm from virtually on our own doorstep."

B&E Boys is also creating an industrial "mini village" - the Waters Meeting development - on the 45 acres of land surrounding the former Sandusky Walmsley factory in Crompton Way, Bolton, over the next five years, with the capacity for up to 1,000 jobs.