PLANS have been lodged to convert a Conservative club into 12 one-bedroom apartments.

Blackrod Conservative Club is currently vacant and has been all this year and a large proportion of 2020.

The building is in a prominent site on Church Street with a nursery to the rear of the proposed development and a health centre around 60 metres away.

In a statement supporting the plans, developer Fred Thompson said he wished to attract ‘single occupants, professionals and couples with no dependants’ to live in the converted and extended building.

He added: “The proposal is to convert the existing un-used Conservative club into 12 one-bedroom apartments giving the area much-needed additional housing.

“The development will include a two and three storey extension to the rear of the building to achieve four one bedroom apartments over three floors.

“The existing front elevation will remain the same with the addition of a steeper pitched roof construction finished in a grey aluminium roofing sheet matching the colour of the existing slate roof tiles.

“The rear extension will be completed in a smooth brick to match the existing previous extension.

“The existing site has no parking apart from the free spaces on the access road to the side of the building.”

The size of the apartments will range from 39.6 sq metres to 48.3 sq metres.

Bolton Council's highways department did not object to to plans but made comments regarding parking at the the site.

Their statement said: “There is no off-road parking provision associated the premises to support the proposed change of use.

“The available on-street parking at this location is well used and residents of this proposal will have to compete with this problem if they have a vehicle.

“The site is located within the village centre of Blackrod and would be considered highly accessible to sustainable modes of transportation and the surrounding available amenities.”

Neighbours on Church Street and Blackhorse Close are to be consulted on the plans.