THE landmark tower of Holden Mill in Astley Bridge could be turned into a unique new home — and could go on sale for £250,000.

Developers have spent six years converting the Grade II listed building in Blackburn Road into apartments — and now they are looking at transforming the tower itself.

The tower, from top to bottom, is 144ft tall.

Craig Lynch, from developers PJ Livesey, said: “The tower, with its copper dome, is a local landmark and there is a possibility it could become one very special property. It is large enough inside and we are looking at different options and talking to planners.

“It is an opportunity to create a distinctive one-off property, but it is still in the early stages of planning and nothing has yet been confirmed.

“The company is also finalising plans for two huge duplex penthouses at the north end of the building, which will have south-facing wrap-around terraces.”

The firm has said the tower’s final price will be “subject to numerous design changes”, but it should be somewhere between £200,000 and £250,000.

Built for Sir John Holden in 1926, it was the last large cotton mill built in Bolton and among the first in the country to have electricity.

This meant it could have generous floorplates.

It operated as a mill until the mid-1960s and was used as a warehouse before work started on the conversion in 2007.

The layout of the building allowed the developers to create covered terraces for most of the apartments — while the sixth-floor penthouses have open decks with far-reaching views.

Preliminary ideas for the “tower home” show access from the fifth door of the main building into a private entrance with stairs to an open-plan living and kitchen area.

On the seventh floor, there could be two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the eighth floor could house a large master bedroom suite.

Brian Tetlow, Bolton and District Civic Trust chairman, said: “Holden Mill was unique in that it was the first all electric mill.

“I have no problem with the tower being converted into a home and I think whoever lives there will have a fantastic view over Bolton and the countryside.

“The conversion of the mill into new finished flats has been a wonderful project and has considerably improved the appearance of the place.”