A BID to demolish a derelict social club in Horwich and build a new block of flats in its place has been rejected by Bolton Council after the developer was accused of failing to provide enough information within its proposal.

The plans to knock down the former Horwich Central Social Club in Harrison Street to make way for a three-storey building with 11 flats has been refused.

This comes three years after a planning application was approved for an almost identical residential development of 10 one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment at the site.

But planning permission expired as the developer did not start working on the site in time.

The local authority has now refused permission for the latest application because there was “insufficient information” provided, according to officers.

They said: “It is considered that insufficient information has been provided by the applicant with regards to bats, nesting birds, drainage, flood risk and land contamination to allow the local planning authority to properly assess the proposal.”

A total of three letters of objection received by the council in response to the application, raising concerns about the proposed residential development’s compatibility with neighbouring businesses including a garage and workshops.

Horwich Town Council also raised an objection to the application in June.

Concerns were raised about insufficient parking, access and the effect on existing business in the area.

Town councillors also queried bin storage, thought the design was “aesthetically unpleasing”, according to a report by the planning officer.

It said: “While welcoming development of a brownfield site, councillors considered the whole development needs to done holistically in further discussion with applicant, as Harrison Street is a vital part of the town centre regeneration scheme.”

Next Stage, the company behind the scheme, blamed all parties involved, who were “frustrated” by funding issues, for the failure to start demolishing the derelict building before planning permission expired last year.

Keystone Design Associates Ltd published a statement alongside the new application it submitted on behalf of the Westhoughton-based developer.

It said: “The proposed development is a simple design and is proposed to be three storeys in height with a pitched roof. Projecting bays to the front elevation will add detail and interest to the street frontage.”

A planning application which proposed the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a replacement building comprising office units at ground floor and six apartments at first and second floors was approved in 2008.

A full planning application, similar to the latest proposal was approved in 2017.

The applicant has six months to appeal the latest decision by Bolton Council.