A £6 million shopping complex could finally be built on a prime Bolton town centre site.

Fears had been growing that plans to develop the old Co-op site on the corner of Bridge Street and Bow Street had fallen through.

But it has now been revealed that the site has been sold to Manchester-based commercial property developer London and Palatine Ltd.

Director Mr Richard Waterworth said today: "This scheme is very much on."

He said they were in talks with two well-known retail companies. One is a clothing chain and the other is household goods.

Mr Waterworth added that he was hoping they would be signed up by the beginning of next month and a start could be made by the end of the summer.

There would be small shops as well as the two major stores in the complex.

Another company Arrowcroft Group plc, who developed the Shipgates Centre, was granted planning permission for the Co-op development in 1994.

But they never bought the site from previous owners the Law Debenture Trust.

Arrowcroft director Mr Daniel Carter said: "The rug was pulled from under our feet when the site was sold."

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, welcomed the news that the site could be developed soon. "I am pleased that something does seem to be happening on this site and I wish them well."

A "free baroque" stone facade of the old Co-op building has been removed, but it has been stored in pieces and parts of it will be put back on the new development.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.