ASPIRING musicians will be able to practise their art from inside an historic Bolton building after planners approved the decision.

Bolton Music Service has been searching for a new home and the group applied to take residences at the Grade II-listed Mere Hall, in Thomasson Park.

At a Planning Committee meeting last week, the proposals were approved, meaning the hall, which was given to the town for use in educational purposes, will again become a house of learning.

Council leader Linda Thomas greeted the decision with delight.

“Bolton Music Service is a jewel in the council’s crown and one we are very proud of," she said.

“I am delighted that Mere Hall will become the new home of this inspirational service.

“This is a really good opportunity for the service to increase its number of programmes and build on the fantastic work that they already do.

“Music can make a profoundly positive social impact and this lovely central location will make the service even more accessible and allow the team to engage with a wider community.

“Bolton Music Service is the lead organisation for music education in Greater Manchester and these new facilities will allow them to increase their reach across the region.”

The service has been operating out of Ladybridge High School but a school expansion programme means it needs to find a new home.

Mere Hall was built in 1837 for Benjamin Dobson, an engineer. The house was left to the town of Bolton in 1890 by its then owner, JP Thomasson, and adapted for use as a museum.

When it became the Registrar Service in 1996 it underwent a £1 million refurbishment.