A SUPPORTED living complex of flats and bungalows is planned for the site of a former snooker club and cinema.

Homelife Holdings Ltd wishes to use the vacant plot ,which once housed Westhoughton’s Empire cinema and then became Pockets Snooker Club, to build 17 one-bedroom homes and three bungalows designed for people with disabilities.

The location is next to the Wheatsheaf pub on Market Street within Westhoughton’s conservation area.

Plans submitted to Bolton Council this week include artist’s impressions of how the proposed town centre development would look.

Staff areas and communal outdoor recreation space are included in the plans.

A design and access statement submitted with the plans states: “The site was a two-storey building which housed an Empire cinema until the early 2000s.

“It was then used as a snooker hall until demolition in 2012.

“The site lends itself well to the larger apartment blocks to be positioned at the front and back, where good views can be provided.

“The proposal is to secure the site on all sides with controlled access gates.

“The accommodation is designed for people with disabilities and the design has been supported and informed by Bolton Council adult services commissioning team.”

The application site includes the existing car park next to the Wheatsheaf pub and the existing access point onto Market Street.

The plans comprise three, two-person bungalows, three accessible apartments on the ground floor with dedicated front doors along with a further 14 two-person apartments.

The statement adds: “The accommodation would be operated, managed, and rented via a registered provider.

“It would therefore represent 100 per cent social housing.

“A small element of support staff accommodation would be provided within the overall development.

“The site is vacant, partially overgrown and fenced with temporary fencing.

“In its current state it is unsightly and detracts from the streetscape, immediate locality, surrounding buildings and overall, the wider town centre.

“The proposal therefore offers a significant opportunity to regenerate this key previously developed site within Westhoughton.”

Planners will make a decision on the proposal at a future date to be decided.