New plans approved for abandoned bar in town centre

Bar Metro on Bradshawgate closed back in 2024 and has been empty ever since despite previous plans to turn it into a commercial unit and then eight-bedroom shared house.

But now a scheme to turn the space to turn the vacant first and second floor into offices has been given the go-ahead by Bolton Council planning officers.

A council report said: “The site is that of a former drinking establishment, disused since approximately 2020 and last known as Bar Metro.

“It is likely that the upper floors were previously used as the landlord’s private accommodation, ancillary to the drinking establishment.

The plans have now been approved (Image: RAD)

“It is understood the premises were originally constructed as a bakery.”

It added: “The building adjacent to the north is an apartment complex known as the Picture House.

“It rises to six stories but as the dwellings either front Bradshawgate or face east, there are no dwellings overlooking the site of this application.

“Office uses are considered to be compatible with residential uses, especially within a town centre context.

The building had previously been occupied by Bar Metro (Image: Newsquest)

“The relatively small scale of the development is also noted.”

Previous plans to turn the empty bar into a new business had been put forward in December 2022 but were never acted on.

A proposal to transform the site into an eight bedroom house in multiple occupancy where put forward on 2022 but withdrawn by the applicant in July this year.

The plans to create the new offices were received and validated by Bolton Council on Wednesday November 12 this year.

The report said that the plans would be a good use of a vacant building on what has previously been developed land.

It also said that they would “make a small but positive contribution to enhancing the role of the town centre as a local economic driver focused on office use”.

The report said the scheme would help ensure the historic “Merchant’s Quarter” in the town centre would stay in mainly employments uses focused on office use.

Bolton Council announced on Monday December 15 that the scheme had been approved.

Source – INDIA TV