The roof repairs needed as the first stage of an £8 million facelift for Blackburn's King George's Hall are set to get the go ahead from councillors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee has been recommended to approve the works to the Grade II listed building, which is East Lancashire’s premier entertainment venue.

It will be a major step forward for the complete refurbishment proposals for the hall in the town centre's Northgate.

The money will come from a Levelling Up grant of £20m to Blackburn with Darwen Council from the government.

The proposals consist of the repair and replacement of the slanted and flat roof, roof lights, roof access system, and rainwater goods.

A report to Thursday's meeting by borough planning manager Gavin Prescott says: "The proposed developments are in relation to a programme of works regarding the first phase of a programme of repairs and renovations at King George's Hall which are intended to bring the building back to the grandeur it held when it was first opened in 1921.

"The application site is a Grade II listed building three storeys in height location on the corner of the junction of Northgate and Blakey Moor, within the heart of Northgate Conservation Area and Blackburn Town Centre.

"The proposed works comprise of the repair of the pitched and flat roof of King George's Hall.

"The rooflights which are situated within the flat roof are to be repaired and replaced together with the drainage goods being restored to their original condition.

"The works are urgently required to be undertaken to prevent the hall from falling into further disrepair.

"The roofs require urgent replacement to remedy the ongoing widespread water ingress affecting the building.

"There are 15 roofs to the hall, many of which are in a very poor condition.

"The roof areas include a large slate pitched roof to the auditorium with 14 flat roofs to the other areas of the hall.

"The large slate pitched roof to the auditorium is in very poor condition with evidence of previous patch repairs noted.

"Water ingress is clearly visible within the auditorium, which if left unrepaired, will lead to further damage to the internal finishes/fixings.

"It is considered that the repair works have been adequately justified and reasoned, and they will not result in any substantive harm to the listed building, and no harm to the contribution made by the setting of the nearby Grade II listed buildings or the character and appearance of the Northgate Conservation Area."