PLANS to build Bolton a new magistrates courthouse moved a step forward today with the appointment of a consultancy team to prepare a bid for funding.

The Birmingham-based consultants will now draw up an outline business case to be submitted to the Government for financial approval.

A project panel -- comprising of Bolton Council officials and the Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee -- has also been created to oversee their work.

But the multi-million pound decision on whether to build a new courthouse or revamp the existing one in Le Mans Crescent is not likely to be made until the Summer.

Funding must be agreed first.

The Grade Two listed building was due to close last December with all cases being switched to Bury.

But a campaign to save the courts, which included a 22,000-strong Bolton Evening News petition, helped to persuade the GMMCC to drop its plans. A rescue package was then announced by the Government in May.

Janet Taylor, chairman of the Bolton bench, said: "Everything is going according to plan.

"Once they get the business case going then they will decide whether to have a new build or a re-fit.

"We are looking at June or July for that."

Under a Private Finance Initiative package, Bolton Council would find a developer to build a new building or take over the existing one, then the council would lease it back -- taking its huge costs away from the public's purse.

Councillor Bob Howarth, Leader of Bolton Council, said: "Following successful campaigns to retain the magistrates court in Bolton it is exciting to have reached this stage of the project to build a new court building."

"We look forward to seeing the scheme develop."

And Glenys Stacey, chief executive of GMMCC, said: "The quality of the firms who wanted to be involved says much about the interest the development of this scheme is generating."

If the outline business case is approved, sites will be confirmed and developers chosen.

Work is due to start in Spring 2005. Land at Cheadle Square, near Bolton Crown Court, has emerged as a potential site for any new courthouse.