A DEVELOPER who was told last month that its new flats were too small and would create a “pressure-cooker environment” is sticking by its plans, but offering the council £3,000 to build a new play area in Kearsley instead.

A decision on whether to allow 24 self-contained flats in place of Kearsley Social Club, which is set to permanently close after 127 years, is due this week.

The planning committee deferred its decision on July 9 and asked the developer to address concerns about the size of the flats, lack of amenity space and its proximity to an existing property in Holcombe Close.

But the size of the five two-bedroom apartments in the plans, which are three square metres below the national space standard, have not been amended.

No extra outside space has been proposed, but £3,000 for public open space nearby has been offered instead, according to a report by planning officers.

It said: “Officers do not consider that the amount of amenity space being proposed would be so harmful as to result in a refusal of permission.

“The applicant however is now proposing to contribute £3,000 towards public open or play space in the Kearsley area, which would help to improve facilities for local residents and the future residents of the proposed development.”

Applicant Watson Homes argues that increasing the size of the apartments would result in fewer apartments being built within the housing scheme.

Housing association Bolton At Home, which is set to offer all the apartments for social rent, has confirmed it requires apartments of these proposed sizes.

The planning offier’s report also states that Bolton Council does not have a local policy or policy guidance on minimum space standards and therefore the national standards are not mandatory in the borough.

Watson Homes has amended its proposal by re-designing the south western corner of the building, re-orientating the flats within that part of the building, so that it is two metres further away from a neighbouring property.

The planning committee meeting takes place on Thursday at 2pm.