Affordable homes, including supported living apartments, will be built on the former restaurant site.

A once-popular Chinese restaurant has been razed to the ground to make way for new homes.

Shanghai Palace, on Poolstock, closed its doors 10 years ago and has become derelict since, after being targeted by vandals and arsonists.

Homelife Holdings Limited was granted planning permission three years ago to turn the site into 30 affordable homes - 24 supported living apartments and six bungalows.

The bulldozers finally moved onto the land last month and, after a slight delay while asbestos removal specialists carried out their work, it has now been demolished.

It marks the end of an era for the site, which was previously home to The Beer Engine and Poolstock Labour Club.

Its owners will now be looking to the future, with accommodation being built there for people with assessed social care needs, such as disabilities, autism and mental health problems.

There were objections from people in the area when the planning application was lodged, which included the height of the apartment block, the traffic that would be generated, concerns it was out of keeping with the area and fears it would overlook homes.

But the site being more than 17m from the nearest property meant it complied with planning regulations, Wigan Council’s planning committee heard before approving the blueprint in June 2023.

Coun John Harding said at the time: “I am looking at this and there are a few things not mentioned which are positive. The fact it is 100 per cent affordable housing is really positive.

“I think this creates a much more pleasant street scene than the derelict Shanghai Palace. The important thing is that the application does follow the legal requirements.”