A FORMER bank branch which has been closed for more than five years is set for a new lease of life.

Plans to convert the empty RBS building in Wigan Road to two shops and one office, with three self-contained flats above them, have been approved.

One of the units is set to be used for financial and professional services while the other two units can be used by retailers.

New shop fronts will be created for the three units.

The two-storey 3,000 sq ft building went under the hammer in a North West auction by Pugh's with a guide price of around £90,000 last April.

Local businessman Anil Naran submitted a planning application to bring the building back into use in October.

Speaking to The Bolton News at the time, Cllr Andy Morgan raised concerns about parking around the building which is surrounded by double yellow lines.

But highway engineers said the three parking spaces in the service area behind the property will alleviate these problems.