Former Blackburn pub could be turned into cafe and Muslim school

A Mr Ismail has made an application to Blackburn with Darwen Council to convert The Florence in Moss Street, from a public house into a mixed-use development comprising a ground-floor community café and a first-floor Madrasah. The pub ceased trading in March.

His agent states “it will enhance the local community and provide much-needed services for the residents of the local area.”

In a planning statement, the agent says the ground floor would be used as a community café offering a range of food and drink, serving as a social space for local residents and visitors. The intended opening hours are 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

The first floor of the building will be converted to a Madrasah, offering religious and educational services to the local community. The planning statement says: “The Madrasah will provide a space for religious instruction, cultural education, and community engagement...The educational activities will focus on Islamic studies, including Quranic studies, Arabic language classes, and other related subjects. The Madrasah will operate in a manner that ensures it is a respectful and harmonious addition to the area, with minimal disruption to surrounding properties.”

It is intended that the Madrasah would open on Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. The Madrasah will typically accommodate between 20 to 30 pupils at any given time.

Noise and distrubance

The agent states: “The café and Madrasah will operate with consideration for nearby residential properties. All activities will be conducted in a manner that minimizes noise and disruption, and the proposed operating hours are designed to avoid late-night disturbances.”

Traffic and parking

The agent insists the proposed uses will have only a “moderate” impact on traffic and parking. They say: “Given the location and the local context, we believe the development will not result in significant adverse effects on traffic flow or parking demand. The inclusion of on-site parking and the proximity to public transport links will help mitigate any concerns.”

A decision will be made by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in coming weeks.