PLANS to demolish a derelict social club and build a new block of flats have resurfaced after a developer failed to start work on the site before planning permission elapsed.

A new application to knock down the former Horwich Central Social Club in Harrison Street to make way for a three-storey building with 11 flats has been submitted to the council.

This comes three years after planning permission was approved for the residential development which features 10 one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.

Next Stage, the company behind the scheme, blamed all parties involved, who were “frustrated” by funding issues, for the failure to start demolishing the derelict building before planning permission expired.

Keystone Design Associates Ltd published a statement alongside the new application it submitted on behalf of the Westhoughton-based developer.

It said: “The proposed development is a simple design and is proposed to be three storeys in height with a pitched roof. Projecting bays to the front elevation will add detail and interest to the street frontage.”

The proposed development will provide accommodation comprising both one and two-bedroom flats.

Each apartment will have an open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area.

The one bedroom units will have a floor space of approximately 52.5 square metres and the two-bedroom units up to 56.5 square metres.

The planning agent said each flat provides a “good standard” of accommodation.

It added: “Due to the size and shape of the application site and the intentions of the applicant to provide good-size units within it, it is acknowledged that there is little private garden space surrounding the building.

“However, the proposed accommodation is intended to appeal to a market audience who would be willing to forfeit the garden space for other benefits that the scheme would offer such as the convenient location of the proposed development.

“Future occupants will however have easy access to the amenities provided within the nearby Old Station Park and those within the surrounding area.

“The principle of the development has been approved in the past and the previously approved scheme offered similar amounts of external space to the current proposal.”

A planning application which proposed the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a replacement building comprising office units at ground floor and six apartments at first and second floors was approved in 2008.

A full planning application, similar to the latest proposal was approved in 2017.

Planning officers at Bolton Council are expected to decide the outcome of the latest application by August.