A FORMER office block could become a benefits assessment centre after new plans were submitted.

Representatives from Sano Physiotherapy Ltd made an application to Bolton Council's planning department last week to change the use of Holland House, in Holland Street, Astley Bridge.

The company plans to use the 2,000 sq ft site as part of a partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to carry out Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, which decide whether people are entitled to certain benefits.

A planning statement submitted by Sano Physiotherapy said: "The hours of opening proposed at Holland House will be Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm and the building will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. We do not operate within unsociable hours.

"Generally, there will be four full-time assessors onsite daily and one part-time assessor employed three days a week.

"Consultations are by prior appointment only and for individual claimants, with each assessment lasting 45 minutes in duration. Each assessor will complete four assessments per day and have 45-60 minutes of write-up time post-assessment prior to the next claimant arriving.

"As a result, there will never be any more than 10 people onsite at any one time and for most of the day there will only be assessors onsite.

"Waiting facilities are available for claimants who choose to turn up early."

Sano signed a lease agreement for Holland House on March 1 for a period of five years it was previously used as office space but has been vacant for some time.

The company specialises in consultancy and has 41 sites across Yorkshire, the North West, the North East and the Midlands.

It predominantly provides physiotherapy services but bosses have signed a long-term contract with the DWP to carry out benefit (PIP) assessments in the Bolton region.

To find out more about this application, search under reference number 05792/19 on www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk.