A NEW social housing estate will be built on an old council depot, after fears were allayed over its impact on one of the borough’s oldest homes.

Bolton at Home’s plans to build 21 affordable homes off Park Road, Westhoughton, were given the thumbs up last month — on the condition that the designs were amended to protect a neighbouring property dating back to 1609.

Anita Jackson-Baratinsky, who lives at the historic property at Higher Landedmans, had asked for two of the proposed new builds to be moved further away from her home.

At a planning committee meeting this afternoon, she confirmed that she was now satisfied with Bolton at Home’s proposals.

Cllr Nick Peel praised the work done to amend the plans.

He said: “I think it is really a great situation for this committee to find itself in.

“We insisted that this application be deferred so that we could listen to what she said and move back those plots to lessen the impact to her home.

“It is marvellous that an objector to an application can come back here today as a supporter — I don’t think I have seen that before.”

He added: “This is much-needed social housing in an area of Bolton that really needs it.

“I think we have made a near-perfect application perfect.”

Nearby residents have also previously raised concerns about the potential impact the development of the site, which had reportedly become a hotbed of anti-social behaviour, could have on traffic in the area.