Catherine House at Grecian Mills, Bolton could become flats

This comes after plans were lodged to transform Catherine House, part of the Grecian Mill complex, on Lever Street, Great Lever, into 12 new flats.

The building has been abandoned for more than a year, amid an ongoing need for housing in the area.

Cllr Karen Hon, of Great Lever, said: “Obviously with things like this we would need to know the quality before commenting on the development specifically.

“In Great Lever quality developments near the hospital can help attract people, so attracting professional people would be no bad thing.”

The building has been empty for some time (Image: HFS Planning Applications Ltd)

She added: “Our argument would be that the issue we really have is the need for affordable housing for families, so family apartments would really be something we’d prefer.”

The Grecian Mills complex, a Grade II listed building, was first built in 1845 as a cotton spinning works and since then has been used for industrial, business and retail purposes.

The Catherine House section has been used as office in the past but has now been empty for more than 12 months.

The plans have been put before Bolton Council (Image: HFS Planning Applications Ltd)

While it lies empty Bolton, and Great Lever in particular, has struggled with an acute need for more housing.

Cllr Hon said: “Ideally as councillors we are looking for high standard, high quality homes that will be affordable for families.

“Currently there is a shortage of family homes, if people are looking to move house in Great Lever they’re having to wait two or three years!”

Catherine House at the Grecian Mills complex (Image: HFS Planning Applications Ltd)

A statement by HFS Planning Applications ltd says that the developers aim to preserve the building’s historic character by keeping the external layout and internal structure the same.

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The statement said: “The building has remained to let/for sale for a number of years and previous use of the building has run its course and is impractical to continue it, as it does not offer any real benefit to the local community nor the building.”

It added: “The building has remained vacant/to let and boarded up for over 12 months as a result has attracted unwanted attention and has been subject to vandalism, social disruption/and disorder.

“The building no longer functions adequately as a place of work and will not survive unless users are found.”

Bolton Council will decide whether or not to approve the plans at a later date.