A ‘MONUMENT to decay’ in the centre of Clitheroe is set to be given a new lease of life.

The Victoria Pub in Market Place has stood empty and boarded up since 2011 after Ribble Valley Borough Council revoked its licence.

Now the green light has been given to plans to convert the building into a Fat Face store.

The Grade II Listed pub lost its licence after police received complaints about underage drinking at the premises. Police were told children as young as 15 were being served with alcohol and officers visited the pub on several occasions and found youths drinking vodka and lager.

Since then, the business has been sold by Enterprise Inns to new owner Trevor Wildman from Pendleton.

The application from Fat Face also included the redecoration of the shop front and internal cosmetic works.

Town councillor Kevin Horkin said: “Any plan to blow new life in an old building that has been standing empty is a good one. I’m exceptionally pleased that permission has been granted and that a national retailer is coming to Clitheroe.

“For a long time it has been a blot on the landscape and has been a monument to decay in such a prominent place in this picturesque market town.”

The three-storey building was constructed in the mid-19th Century and became listed in 1976.

A council spokesman said: “The principle of the change of use is supported and this would enable unoccupied premises to be utilised for employment purposes and a retail use of this nature within the main shopping court of Clitheroe is compliant with both national and district wide policies.

“The benefits to the development is it will secure additional jobs and will assist the local economy, which is welcomed.

“In relation to the external changes, it is predominantly the repainting and alterations to a rear door and ventilation ducts at the rear of the public house.

“In relation to the internal changes, the main changes relate to the removal of a staircase which has been established as not to be of historical significance.”