ONE of Bolton town centre's best known landmarks is set to become the site of a £9 million luxury development for young professionals and business people.

Marsden house, the former Bolton fire station headquarters on the corner of Marsden Road and Deansgate, has been sold by Bolton Council to a development company, and in a joint venture is set to be transformed.

New owners Marsden House Investments Ltd, part of DAG Developments Ltd, will be teaming up with Bolton Council, architects David A Griffiths Partnership Ltd, Wainhomes (Northern) and builders John Mowlem plc.

The scheme will feature 88 luxury apartments, leisure facilities, a restaurant, shops, offices and undercover car parking for tenants.

Marsden House will be refurbished and a new building will be developed at the northern end of the site.

And as previously revealed in the BEN an atrium incorporating a "state of the art" climbing wall will link the two buildings.

Wainhomes (Northern) Ltd, from Standish, will take most of the apartments which will be fitted out for sale on the private market.

It is hoped work will start in the next three to four months with completion due in 2000.

Councillors at the land and property sub-committee were told the development will make a significant contribution to revitalising the town centre. It will be the first time a national house builder has invested in Bolton town centre.

Council Leader Cllr Bob Howarth, chairman of the sub-committee, said: "This project promises a whole exciting new look to this important area of the town centre. It is an innovative and architecturally exciting scheme and the David A Griffiths Partnership, chief architects to the scheme, have done extremely well to bring together such a complex package."

David Griffiths, joint managing director of DAG Developments Ltd, added: "We are determined to have it completed in the Millennium year, when we can celebrate the renewal of the building as well as its 100th birthday."

Ideal

Stephen Robinson, regional land director of Wainhomes (Northern), said: "The flats will provide ideal accommodation for professionals and other business people who work in the town and who want to avoid the waste of time and money in commuting each day.

"Marsden House will also appeal to people who work in central Manchester and prefer to commute by train."

The Bolton branch of Unison, which had been campaigning to save the building, will also be returning to its former home in the town with offices and a social club in the development.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.