DEVELOPERS who have been given the go-ahead to build offices on the former Bolton Royal Infirmary site, creating 200 new jobs, will hand over part of their land to Bolton Hospice to help their expansion plans.

It had been hoped that the land, which will be used as a car park by the hospice, would be used for 22 affordable houses.

The hospice hopes to extend day care facilities at the rear of their existing building and have yet to submit a planning application.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for the scheme by Oakland house Developments Ltd to erect three office buildings near the former Nurses Home on Chorley New Road.

But at a Planning Committee meeting, Cllr Stuart Murray expressed disappointment at having to give up part of the side allocated for cheap houses.

He said: "It is a sign of the times that we have to give up affordable housing for a car park. I hope we will be able to re-double our efforts to find suitable sites."

Council Leader, Cllr Bob Howarth commented: "It is a car park for a hospice and it is of great importance. The Kensington site is for affordable housing and I am sure other opportunities will be presenting themselves. We cannot give up this opportunity to let the hospice expand."

There will be 6505 square metres of office space created by the scheme and there will 400 jobs on the site - 200 being transfers.

Oakland has promised that the edge of the development will be heavily landscaped. A central lawned garden area between two offices will be created as an extension to Pembroke Street, the old Infirmary access.

Cars and other other vehicles will be able to get onto the site from the new access to be created onto Chorley Street, approved as part of the David Lloyd Tennis Centre Scheme.

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