PLANS to build three new apartment blocks next to the Royal Bolton Hospital, first revealed two years ago, are before the planning committee for a vote this week.

The application, one of three to be discussed at a virtual meeting, is to build three four-storey buildings on top of a disused railway line off Minerva Road.

The new flats and shared accommodation would be located directly adjacent to the hospital and the forthcoming £30m Bolton College of Medical Science.

It is hoped future residents will be medical staff working at the hospital or students attending the new college without depending on public transport at unsocial hours or the use of a car – although the development would be served by 98 parking spaces too.

Developer Dorbcrest Homes is now proposing to build 12 two-bedroom apartments, up from 10, and 18 five-bedroom shared multiple occupancy units, down from 20, cutting the total number of bedrooms from 100 to 90.

Bolton Council has received 51 objections to the application, some from residents worried about the new apartments overlooking their homes.

Residents have also raised concerns about traffic and parking congestion.

But planning officers have endorsed the proposal and recommended that councillors approve the application, a report to the committee reveals.

It said: “Overall, the proposed development is considered to comply with policy and the benefits of housing provision are considered to outweigh any harm identified.”

The committee has also been recommended to approve plans to build 11 three-bedroom houses at a former scrapyard next to Farnworth Park.

The new properties which could be built on land adjacent to Cross Street would comprise of 10 semi-detached and one detached dwelling.

A total of seven letters of objection have been received, as well as nine duplicate letters of objection, according to a council report.

They raised concerns about building homes on contaminated land, the height of the proposed properties and added noise and disturbance in the area.

A petition opposing the development signed by 19 people was also submitted.

Planning officers have recommended refusing one proposal, however – an application to retain two home extensions built without planning permission.

The application seeks to retain a single-storey extension to the side and rear of one house in Ashton Street and a part two-storey extension to the rear of the neighbouring property.

Rumworth councillor Shamim Abdullah has requested that the application be heard before committee.

The virtual meeting will take place via video conference on Thursday at 2pm.