A VICTORIAN house could be demolished after plans to turn the site into 16 homes were revealed.

Yew Tree House in Astley Bridge was built in 1862 as a Victorian villa and the property covers about 0.29 hectares between Mackenzie Street and Broad O’Th’ Lane.

But now developers are hoping to transform the derelict area into 16 three-bedroom homes.

A statement submitted by Neil Pike Architects on behalf of the applicant said: “The existing building on the site is a large property of the Victorian era and is in a generally poor state of repair.

“It is unviable to convert the building as proposed in previous applications and also the footprint and volume of the building severely restrict the development options of the site, if it was to remain.

“The proposed scheme justifies the demolition of this building as the site is a large plot of land in a designated urban area and can therefore accommodate a development of an increased number of dwellings.

“This site is typical of many other sites throughout the borough and the country, in that it is a brownfield site currently occupied by a large redundant building, the conversion or upkeep of which is neither viable nor sustainable, making the redevelopment of the land a priority in accordance with current planning policy.”

Resident and activist Warren Fox said it would be a ‘crying shame’ if the plans were approved.

He said: “I think we will lost a little bit more of our heritage.

“It is a beautiful property and it is part of Bolton’s history.”