PLANS for new retail units at Farnworth Market may be scaled down after the building failed to attract prospective tenants.

Applicants St Modwen Properties have submitted a request to Bolton Council to reduce the size of the development in Brackley Street from a two storey building to one storey only.

The plans were approved in February for six retail units with first floor leisure unit, intended for use as a gym or fitness space.

But, according to the resubmission made earlier this month, no prospective occupier for the upper floor has come forward.

With a limited time to complete the development, St Modwen has applied to reduce the size instead of delaying until a tenant could be found.

David Nuttall, Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: “The proposed amends to our existing planning consent will enable us to focus on delivering an enhanced retail offer in Farnworth town centre, for which we have seen positive demand.”

One of the retail units has reduced in size, offset by a small additional retail unit being added in place of the entrance and lift to the first floor.

A disused market service building in the yard will also be demolished and be replaced by nine staff car parking spaces.

The plans for the new building divided opinion among residents and traders when they were first mooted two years ago.

Farnworth Cllr Asif Ibrahim said the changes to the plans was not a negative setback for the development.

"It is reverting to original plans for a one storey development, a second storey was something St Modwen brought in off the cuff," he said.

"A second storey has never been an integral part of the development in its own right. They have come to a sensible view that the original plans will stand. It's got to be the right thing, you don't want a vacant floor."

However, the newest change marks yet another delay for already fed-up local traders.

Steve Rawcliffe, who has owned a fruit and vegetable stall in the market for 30 years, said traders remained in the dark over the plan and doubts the redevelopment will ever fully come about.

He added: "You hear all these different stories but, at the end of the day, I will believe it when I see it.

"For the past 20 years they have been going on about this new development but nothing ever happens.

"I just can't understand why they want to build anymore shops anywhere, there's a number of shops standing empty as it is."