A BUSINESSMAN has insisted his proposals for a well known listed building will see it become a fantastic development .

Mick Norcorss, of TOWIE fame, says homes at the Grand, in Broadway, Leigh, will be lived in within 18 months.

He said: “It’s taken about a year longer than we expected due to extra works.

“We’ve had to install a whole steal frame inside the building.

“It has to be done and there is a large amount of work to be done with this.

“We are putting in more steel framing next week.

“It is a very old building and is about 120 years old, but it’ll be fantastic in the end.

“We are going to deliver an upper class building and we’ve had a lot of interest for the homes. It’s a real chicken and egg situation, we were unsure whether to start on the front of the back of the building.

“We are building 18 apartments with commercial space in the basement and on the ground floor.

“I will not be operating these premises so it’s not appropriate to suggest what it’ll be used for, but plans allow for a spa in the basement, with restaurants and bars on the ground floor.

“It could be used for anything. I know people are talking about me taking my business out of Leigh, but this simply is not the case at all.”

The businessman believes the new site will be a much better facility than it was before.

He said there’s still about 18 months worth of works until the project is completed.

Mr Norcross said he could sell the homes off plan and the new residents will be in their properties within the 18-month timescale.

He is keeping tight-lipped about the cost of the new homes for the time being.