PLANS for a £2m hotel in Blackburn town centre have been approved.

Pub company JD Wetherspoon wants to convert disused floors above The Postal Order pub in Darwen Street into a 22-bedroom hotel.

The scheme is aimed at tourists and people travelling on business.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are very keen to open a hotel at our pub, The Postal Order, and are pleased that planning permission has been granted.

“We believe the pub will benefit the pub and, importantly, benefit Blackburn itself.

“It highlights Wetherspoon’s commitment to the pub, its staff and its customers and also to the town.

“The development cost is approximately £2million and we believe the new hotel will bring an additional 15 jobs.

“There are no on-site or opening dates as yet.”

The hotel bedrooms would include TV, irons, tea and coffee, baths, walk-in showers, desk and free WiFi.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for regeneration was happy about the news.

He said: “Everybody recognises, with the popularity of the Premier Inn in the town centre, that there is a need for more hotel space.

“It is good that Wetherspoon’s have realised that and are trying to build a hotel.

“The Premier Inn is full most of the time and there is a need for another one.

“There are now even more reasons for people to come into Blackburn and they may need to stay.

“It is good news all round with more jobs being offered.”

The development would not be the first hotel above a Wetherspoon’s, as the pub chain has more than 50 hotels and 1,100 rooms nationwide.

Plans for a hotel come as Blackburn with Darwen Council submitted proposals for a new £6.5million eight-screen cinema on the former Waves water fun centre site in Nab Lane.