IT’S the culmination of years of painstaking restoration work...but the Grand in Leigh is now set to live again.

Plush and high-end apartments at the landmark former pub site hit the market today, with dozens waiting to view the properties.

The 18 new homes at the Grand, in Broadway, Leigh, priced from £700,000 have received interest from 500 people.

The former hotel, which dates back to 1899, is being converted by developers 460 Leisure into 18 apartments, with a basement restaurant, spa and shop.

Echo:

Bosses at the firm insist they are speaking with “big names” for the basement commercial space.

A spokesman for 460 Leisure said: “It is fantastic and the change in the building in far beyond what we expected it to look like.

“The interiors are fantastic and the amount of light coming into those apartments is amazing. Today we have our first views and have about 60 people booked in for these.

Echo:

“We had 500 people download the brochure for the development online. The amount of interest is like nothing we’ve seen in the last 10 years.

“The discussions around the commercial space are very exciting and we are working with some big names.

“It’s been a long project and with anything like this you need to be sympathetic and it has created a lot of emotion and feeling in the community.

Echo:

“It’s a phenomenal achievement and I am very proud of what we have done here. The commitment of everyone involved to get us to this stage is really something to be proud of.”

The building was owned by the late television star and businessman Mick Norcross, who died in January 2021.

Echo:

In 2017 Mr Norcross was granted planning permission to convert the old building into a wine bar, health club and a restaurant, plus 18 luxury flats, with 19 parking space.

The original hotel dates back to 1899 when it was known as The Family and Commercial Hotel.

Carole Mulroney, Lib Dem councillor for Leigh, said: “Obviously everyone wants to see it open and visible and it has been in a state of disarray for many years.

Echo:

“It’s another chapter in The Grand’s history and, with the other development nearby, it’s a catalyst for the area and focal point for people moving between Broadway and Leigh Road.

“I think it looks good.”

Plans for the landmark building had repeatedly been knocked back by the council, before Mr Norcross worked closely with the council to gain planning permission in 2017.