PLANS for a huge sheltered housing complex for older people close to the centre of Little Lever have been approved.

Bolton At Home housing association plans to build 62 apartments and six bungalows on land at Dearden Street and Lever Street as an ‘extra care building’.

The U-shaped complex, called Lever Gardens, will be part two-storey and part three-storey building.

It will also contain a bistro for residents only and communal areas.

The site was formerly a 24 unit sheltered housing scheme, but is currently vacant having been cleared of previous buildings in 2019.

The plans reveal that most of the flats will have balconies and a large communal green area is part of the plans.

All the bungalows will have back gardens.

A planning report states that the development will result in the loss of trees from the site, notably a willow on the Lever Street frontage.

Thirty-three parking spaces are proposed for the extra care facility with one each for the bungalows.

Ward councillor Sean Hornby, said: “The previous site only has 21 dwellings. This is a massive increase.

“This is another piece in the jigsaw for Little Lever alongside the new health centre which is well underway and scheduled to be finished for July next year.

“This is being built locally too, by Seddon’s of Farnworth.

“It is needed in the borough and I’m pleased that it also caters for the disabled.

“I’m more than happy to move approval for this scheme.”

The planning committee unanimously approved the scheme.