WORK to transform a derelict group of town centre mill buildings could start later this year.

Developers are planning to convert the Globe Works island of buildings in Lower Bridgeman Street into a complex comprising 124 apartments.

Councillors first gave the proposals the go ahead 12 months ago, but work is yet to begin on the landmark site, which has had a large banner reading ‘mill for sale’ on its roof for several years.

The owner of the site, Silverwells Ltd, has now been given permission to go ahead with amended plans, which will create the same number of apartments but no longer include the demolition of one of the site’s four buildings. Instead, the office building fronting Lower Bridgeman Street will be retained and converted into 14 apartment units, and none of the other buildings will be extended upwards.

A spokesman for Neil Pike Architects, which has managed the application, said it hopes development will begin later this year on the conversion.

The architects added that the amended plans had been further improved by repositioning the proposed refuse store on to Ash Street.

Tory councillor Andy Morgan, who supported the plans when they came before the planning committee last year, said: “That part of the town is one of the main gateways into Bolton and it is in an absolute state.

“What we really need is a massive, forward-thinking plan to regenerate the whole area.

“Anything that can kickstart that kind of development will be very welcome.”

Councillors were divided on the proposal last year.

Some raised concerns over parking and safety due to the site’s location next to a very busy main road with resultant safety issues for the people residing there.

The plans indicated that there was only room allocated for 20 parking spaces, far less than the total number of flats.

But the developer said that the proposal did comply with planning policy for town centre sites.

There were also suggestions that the development could be used to house a cinema or swimming pool in addition to the apartments.

The building used to be called the Glove Hosiery Works.

It was built in 1884 and rebuilt in 1929 by Hodgkinson and Gillbrand, which made knitted and crocheted hosiery. The firm moved to Fletcher Street in 1972.

Since then, other companies have run a variety of firms at the site, although it has been unused for at least the last six years.