PLANS to demolish a pair of Victorian houses to make way for a string of "town houses" have been put on hold so council planners can seek more information about the scheme.

Bolton Council's planning committee has been asked twice to consider a proposal by D C Kennedy Homes Ltd to demolish a pair of semi-detached houses and build 14 town houses with 12 garages at 338 to 340 Chorley New Road.

At their March meeting, committee members deferred any decision on the application to visit the site of the proposed development.

At their recent meeting they again deferred any decision on the application to further seek information.

If given the go-ahead, the application would see the Victorian villas bulldozed and replaced with a terraced row of three-storey houses.

A report to the planning committee says of the proposal: "The site is located within the Chorley New Road Conservation Area which is an important 19th century suburb of Bolton. The property is a prominent feature of the conservation area and adds to the setting of the important frontage of Chorley New Road which is a major approach road into the town."

Committee members were told that six residents had written letters of objection about the scheme, claiming it would mean the loss of a building of note, would fail to enhance the environment and would be over-development.

Council environmental officers have also raised concerns that the development would result in the loss of 34 semi-mature trees.

The report goes on to describe the area as a "unique and inherent part of Bolton's identity", adding: "It is considered vital that this character should not be lost".

Despite visiting the site to see the area at first hand, planning committee members had sought information on the condition of one of the villas, which is council-owned, to see if it would be viable to keep it and convert it into flats.

They also wanted to know what benefits to the community would be gained from the demolition of the villas and the re-development of the site.

Voted

The report adds: "The applicant's response does not address any of these requirements and insufficient information has been provided to justify the demolition of the existing buildings."

Planners had earmarked the application for refusal, but members voted to further defer any their decision.

Cllr John Walsh said: "I think these issues are sufficiently important for the appropriate member to seek more information so we can put a conservative view forward."