A DEVELOPER has been forced to give up plans to turn the home of the former Asons Solicitors into flats — after being told the building has been sold to a mystery buyer.

It emerged yesterday that Empire Property Concepts wanted to convert Newspaper House, in Bolton town centre, into 66 flats.

A planning application had been submitted to Bolton Council for a change of use of the office building in Churchgate, which was previously occupied by The Bolton News for 25 years.

The developer was planning to purchase the property from current owner Asons Estates if approval was granted for the housing proposal.

However, bosses at the Doncaster-based firm were stunned to discover yesterday afternoon that the office block has now been sold to another buyer.

A spokesman for Empire said there was a 'gentleman's agreement' in place with Asons Estates, which they were 'disappointed' has been broken, and that the planning application would be withdrawn immediately.

Northwood and WEPA, a bathroom tissue and kitchen towel manufacturer, currently rents the third floor of Newspaper House for its offices and says it is unaware of any development plans.

A spokesman said: "We have a contract here to the end of 2019 and that remains unchanged. We will be in the building until then."

Asons purchased the site for £902,000 in April, 2016, after the law firm shelved plans for an £8 million base in Clarence Street.

Last November, it was revealed that Bolton Council had awarded the firm a controversial £300,000 grant to help refurbish the offices.

That money was repaid in full when Asons Solicitors ceased trading in March. Both Asons and Coops Law, the practice to which it was sold, have since been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

While its potential purchase of the site was at an early stage, Empire — which is also developing other properties in the town centre — had been optimistic about the project.

Empire said it had been in contact with estate agents Miller Metcalfe about Newspaper House.

Miller Metcalfe declined to comment on its involvement in the sale and the building is not listed on its commercial property website.

Empire Property Concepts Ltd also owns the six-storey Sun Alliance House building in Bradshawgate.

The developer has permission to create 74 units within the top five floors of the building — which also contains the Downtown bar on the ground floor.

It also completed the purchase of the derelict Globe Works in May.

There are plans to convert the mill buildings, in Bolton town centre, into a modern apartment complex.