Police consultants have called for changes to be made to plans to convert a former technical college into apartments because of the crime rate in the area.

Proposls have been put forward to covert the college building on Mawdesley Street into flats.

The former Bolton Technical School, in the Mawdsley Street conservation area, close to Nelson Square, is currently vacant and described as ‘in a state of disrepair'.

Developers, Warrington-based Pod Property wishes to bring back the grand Bolton town centre building ‘back to its former glory’ by converting it into 22 apartments.

The application was submitted this month, after a previous application submitted in December was withdrawn.

A crime impact statement drawn up by Greater Manchester Police's Design for Security - crime prevention consultancy based within Greater Manchester Police.

The report states the volume of crime in the local area is very high – with the most prevalent types of crime being less serious wounding, theft, non-domestic burglary and criminal damage.

It states: "These types of crime are typical of those experienced in or within close proximity of town and city centres – where there is often a concentration of retail, commercial and licensed premises, leading to a concentration of crime and disorder issues.

"The majority of the violence in the local area takes place in the town centre (around/off Bank Street/Bradshawgate, Deansgate and Great Moor Street), in the evening/during early hours of the morning. There is also a higher volume of incidents experienced between Friday and Sunday – when more people tend to visit the town centre."

Police have said in the most recent figures there was a high annual rate of crime nearby.

These included 21 domestic burglaries, 174 non domestic burglaries, 153 incidents of criminal damage, 981 incidents of less serious wounding, 348 thefts, 86 robberies, 39 serious woundings, 655 thefts from a motor vehicle, 27 thefts of a motor vehicle and 54 bicycle thefts.

The consultants have recommended a number of changes to the design

These include changing the double entrance doors on Mawdsley Street to a single entrance which would be easier to secure and monitor electronically, placing a gate on the alleyway and parking area to the north of the property to prevent antisocial behaviour and access to windows and vehicles as well as lengthening bars on ground floor windows.

The report also noted that the proposed development will bring additional activity, overlooking and surveillance to the area at all times of the day and night and the building will "present an active frontage to Mawdsley Street to the east, Bold Street to the south and Back Mawdsley Street to the west, enlivening the street scene and potentially providing useful natural surveillance over the surrounding public realm".

The report stated that the consultants would support the development if the changes are made.

The former Technical College was built in the Italianate style in 1868-70.

It was originally the Mechanics Institute and became the technical school in 1891.

More recently it had been used as a health studio, gym and sauna and venue for exercise and dance classes.