AN OFFER to demolish two luxury houses, which had been built too big and in the wrong location, has been accepted by town hall planners.

They have recommended that councillors approve the compromise by the Grundy Fold Home Owners Association.

The move will cost the owners more than a million pounds if the application is waved through by the planning committee next week.

This comes after the council ordered that five mansions should be demolished – a decision which has been appealed and is due to be discussed at a public inquiry.

But the owners of the five luxury homes hope to settle the matter in advance of the public inquiry by demolishing two of the properties and reducing the size of another.

Town hall officers said they did not find any reasons to justify refusing planning permission for the revised application, according to a report published this week.

They said: “It is considered that the proposed development, as amended, on balance, would not have a greater impact on the openness of the green belt than the previous development on site (the former caravan storage buildings, farmhouse and associated buildings) or the previously approved development.”

If councillors agree with officers’ recommendation, the homeowners will have to take on the cost of demolition and rebuild themselves.

They made that offer to Bolton Council to carry out the smaller demolition independently of Sparkle, who it is understood, is no longer involved in their negotiations.

The Bolton News understands that the more-than £1m pound bill will be shared between all of the homeowners and, if approved by the planning committee, the work will take at least a year to complete.

The planning committee will discuss and vote on the application at a special meeting which has been arranged for Thursday, August 29 at 10am.

If the application is not successful, a three-day public inquiry into the enforcement notice for all five houses to be demolished will take place on November 12, after which the demolition notice could be enforced.