PLANS to turn the former Farnworth Jobcentre into a day nursery, offices, and self-storage have been approved.

The service in King Street closed in late 2017, as the branch merged with the town centre one.

The two-storey property was then sold at auction for £350,000 in July 2018.

In November 2018, M60 Self Storage Ltd submitted a planning application to change the use of the building from an office to a children's day nursery with an outdoor play area on the ground floor, as well as offices and self-store units on both floors.

Planning consultants Smith and Love wrote in a covering letter: "The uses proposed are appropriate in the town centre to facilitate children’s day nursery care facilities and flexible business spaces for office/business/self-storage space allowing re-use of a vacant town centre building to support local business and family needs, support job creation, and assist with economic growth."

In a planning report, the responsible officer, Beth Bradburn recommended that the proposals be approved.

She wrote: "It is concluded that the proposal would utilise the existing vacant building and would have no adverse impact on surrounding uses or residents, the highways network and Farnworth local town centre, in accordance with both national and local policies."

The plans were officially approved by Bolton Council on Tuesday February 5.

Labour councillor for Farnworth, Cllr Jean Gillies said: "In regards to the Jobcentre itself, we lobbied to save that and we were devastated when it shut.

"To it becoming a nursery I had no objections and I don't think anybody did.

"I think it's good. It brings jobs to Farnworth and it gives people in Farnworth another option for childcare.

"Some people have said putting a nursery next to where a KFC is being built isn't the best idea but that's up to parents at the end of the day."