A long-closed pub building is set to be demolished and replaced with a block of flats. Plans have been submitted to knock down the former White Horse Hotel on Egerton Street, Farnworth and build a three-storey block of one and two-bed flats.

Plans submitted in the past week by applicant Patrick O’Neill said the White Horse Hotel closed in 1996 and only the first floor is now partially occupied and used as offices. The property adjoining the hotel was a betting shop until it closed.

A design and access statement in support of the plans said the intention was to build 12 flats at the site. The report, said: “Prior to considering demolition of the existing building, we looked at the viability of retaining part of the existing building, particularly the front elevation which has some architectural merit, but the difficulties of integrating this into a new building with the complexities of meeting current regulations and the associated construction costs has rendered this unviable.

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“Until 1996, the majority of the building on the site was the White Horse Hotel. “The hotel was formed by the amalgamation of two separate properties that fronted Egerton Street between what was Dover Street and the Railway Hotel.

“Moses Gate train station is located to the north west of the site. “The proposed building consists of three floors of apartments located around a central lift and stair core.

Plans for a new apartment block on Egerton Street

“All living areas have an external balcony of minimum seven square metres with full height glazed doors that open out onto the balconies. “Pedestrian access to the building would be from Egerton Street in a similar location to the original hotel.”

The reports said the flats proposed for the new building would be six one-bed apartments and six two-bed apartments. Planners at Bolton Council will consider the plans after a period of consultation with neighbours.