Plans to transform former La Scala restaurant into offices

The La Scala restaurant, located at 49 Chorley Road, has stood empty since the restaurant closed in April 2025.

The latest application proposes creating 15 office units within the property, with eight offices on the ground floor and seven on the first floor.

The plans also include two kitchenette facilities and toilet facilities.

Plans show the layout of the offices (Image: Bolton Council)

A previous scheme, submitted in October 2025, sought to transform the ground floor into a convenience store and convert the upper floor into a series of office suites.

However, that proposal was rejected by planners.

Bolton Council refused the earlier application because the design, bulk, siting and materials would appear “overly dominant and incongruous,” harming both the character of the existing building and the surrounding street scene.

Planning officers also highlighted the importance of the building itself, describing its red-brick façade as “attractive” and noting that it serves as a “landmark” with “high status” in the area.

The new application has again been submitted by the owner of the property, Mr Holden.

According to planning documents, the site is currently classified as a Class E(b) restaurant, with an external car park, and has operated in this capacity for more than 25 years.

Before that, the building functioned as a public house with accommodation above.

The proposal would retain the property within the same broad use class, Class E, meaning significant structural alterations are not expected to be required.

A decision on the latest application is pending.