New restaurant plan for Blackburn conservation area and 9 other new plans this week in East Lancashire

Zeshan Khan has asked Blackburn with Darwen Council for permssion to change the use of 72 Darwen Street from an insurance office building, to a restaurant, with the installation of a 500mm dia extraction flue pipe to the rear.

The next door property has just opened as a Beef King restaurant, and Mr Khan’s agent states: “The property currently lies vacant but operated as an insurance office trading under the name of Riding Insurance. With the demise of such retail shops and offices throughout small towns due to the advent of on-line shopping, the property was sold. Due to high demand the only businesses that seem to be doing well are either gambling, vape shops, or food to eat on the go, or restaurants.”

Darwen Street is one of five conservation areas within Blackburn’s town centre. It contains a collection of fine nineteenth and twentieth century buildings which are set within two distinct zones around the historic north-south axis of Darwen Street and adjacent to Blackburn’s public transport interchange. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has special policies aimed at protecting the street scene and architecture in the area.

The type of restaurant planned has not been publicly revealed, but Mr Khan says that if the application is granted, the business would employ three members of staff and would operate from 4-11pm daily. The agent added: “ The proposal will have a positive impact on the vitality and viability of this local area and (will) retain the commercial status of the premises. The development will be of a high standard.”

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

More applications validated in the past week in East Lancashire:

- Installation of replacement signs to include one double sided post mounted pictorial sign, one double sided post mounted car park directional sign, one 'v' shaped post mounted corex sign, one sign written directional sign and two roundels at Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn.

- Demolition of five redundant and damaged garages in front of 27-31 Douglas Place, Blackburn.

- Construction of a private use stable building consisting of three boxes, tack, feed and machine stores, a hardcore yard, and an outdoor manege at Hollybrook Cottage, Tockholes Road, Tockholes, Darwen.

- Installation of Portakabin building to be used as staff welfare and changing facility at 354 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

- External works to include new boundary fences, walls, gates, shrubs and play surfaces at Play and Learn Childcare, High Street, Rishton.

- Installation of roller shutter doors at the existing front opening of 45 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, and the formation of a rear opening following the demolition of a store room.

- Alterations to existing shop front, installation of ventilation grills to the front elevation and the installation of an ATM at 1 - 3 Scotland Road, Nelson.

- Erection of one dwelling with associated vehicular access, infrastructure, siting of a temporary caravan, and the provision of three parking spaces on land to the north of The Stables, Old Stone Trough Lane, Kelbrook.

- Alterations to land levels with associated landscaping and the installation of lighting bollards at the Forest Of Pendle Leisure Park, Pasture Lane, Roughlee.

For the latest public notices from your area, please visit: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/