A FOUR-STOREY luxury apartment block looks set to be the latest residential development to come to Whitefield.

As reported last year, Prestwich-born businessman Chris Rustage wanted to transform his Mayfair Furniture Warehouse in Bury Old Road into an impressive development of 35 apartments.

The plan would mean the disappearance of 80 years of Cinema history in Whitefield as the building, which is to be demolished, was once the Mayfair Cinema.

His application was recommended as "minded to approve" by Bury planners but a decision was deferred until a site visit can be held before the next planning meeting.

Mr Rustage has enrolled the help of Glasgow-based developers Bett Homes, who also have a North West headquarters in Runcorn.

It is an expanding company which currently has a number of residential projects on the go in the region.

During the planning consultation process, a total of 17 letters of objection have been received from nearby residents concerning car parking provisions, traffic flow problems and overshadowing of nearby houses.

The developers of an adjacent new scheme, Suburban Lofts, which is near to completion have also objected.

The site visit will be held on October 22.