An OFFICE block could be transformed into 88 flats if plans are approved.

The Hong Kong-backed consortium One Heritage, who are behind plans to build a 55-storey apartment block in Salford, the tallest block in the city, have submitted these plans to build a mixture of one, two, and three bedroom apartments.

The block, known as Lincoln House in Nelson Street, Great Lever, was built in 2011 but has been vacant since, with many applications submitted for the site.

The developers believe this conversion would bring many benefits to Bolton.

A planning statement with the application said: "The proposed development will bring an underutilised and vacant site back into productive use.

"The Site is located in a sustainable and highly accessible location, with good public transport connections, and within walking distance of Bolton Town Centre.

"The proposals will result in the sustainable and efficient re-use of a previously developed site and will deliver 88 no. new dwellings which make a meaningful contribution to meeting Bolton Council’s identified housing targets for the Borough.

"The proposed development will bring significant social benefits through the provision of new housing to meet the needs of a range of occupiers and there will also be an economic benefit arising from construction employment and boost to the local spending services."

Plans were submitted and accepted to convert the offices into 90 flats in August 2018, with more plans submitted last year to do the same, however, these were eventually withdrawn.

Great Lever councillor Madeline Murray said it would be good to see the building back in use as it is currently an eyesore.

She said: "I do hope it gets back in use after being empty for so long, it's a bit soul destroying going past it, it looks like a Lego building.

"I know there were objections with the last plans that it's too many flats for the size of the building and we wouldn't want this to be the case again as its only come down by two flats.

"The last thing we want is for it to become basically a HMO."

The developers hope to have the site finished, if approved, by November 2021.