Hotel TURNS into Student Halls

A plan to convert Bolton’s well-known Pack Horse Hotel into student halls has been given the green light.

The proposals, which will see 100 students living in the 19th-century building, have been approved by planning bosses at Bolton Council.

It is thought the influx of students to Nelson Square could provide a huge economic boost for the town centre.

Cllr David Wilkinson, of the council’s planning committee, said: “It is a good use for the hotel. “The licensing trade is struggling at the moment so it will be a big boost for the night time economy. “It is good to see these plans. The university is doing well and the accommodation is needed.”

About three quarters of properties in Nelson Square, including the semi-derelict hotel, are unoccupied. All rooms in the revamped halls will have en-suite bath or shower facilities with a new central heating system and wireless internet access. The rooms will be soundproofed and there will also be a gym in the four-storey accommodation. However there are no plans for a bar, meaning the building would no longer require a licence. Westhoughton-based Forshaw Land and Planning Ltd, which is behind the plans, said: “The economic benefits provided by 100 students plus staff living and working on the square will be enormous and help to provide a much needed boost to the local economy.

“The Pack Horse can’t compete as a hotel and therefore this proposal represents an exceptional opportunity to breathe new life into a building which is no longer suitable for its original purpose.” The Pack Horse closed as a hotel in November, 2009, when it was beset by a range of problems. A number of wedding receptions were cancelled — with deposits refunded — and the then-owner said £200,000 was needed for repairs.

This is Lancashire 8th November 2011