PLANS to convert vacant offices into a restaurant have been thrown out by the council for a second time.

The landlord of the St Helens Road property, which was last occupied by a car rental company, has again been refused permission to turn the premises into a restaurant or cafe.

Town hall planners ruled that the development would increase noise and activity in and around the premises to the detriment of the residents living above it.

Their report also said that the proposed extraction flue would increase noise and odour to the adjoining properties and have a considerable "overbearing" and "over-dominant" impact.

It said: "It is not considered that the reasons for refusal have been adequately addressed through this re-submission.

"The applicant has also provided inadequate details of the proposed flue and of any noise mitigation measures, therefore the management of the potential increase in odour, vibration and noise and its impact onto residential amenity cannot be adequately assessed."

Practical Car and Van Rental moved out of the property and relocated its Bolton branch to Fletcher Street in Great Lever last summer.

This came after neighbouring business Safe, a travel and money transfer service provider, vacated the premises last year.