PLANS have been submitted to build a four-storey hotel on the site of a Darwen pub which burnt down three years ago.

An application has been submitted by Hong Kong businessman Pal Pang for a hotel with 34 rooms, 17 parking spaces and a breakfast room and spa on the site of the old Frankie's Bar in Church Street.

Frankie's bar was destroyed in an arson attack in November 2012.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said that the development, which is hoped to be finished by 2017 if it gets the go ahead, will be a great asset to the town.

He said: "You only have to look at how well the Premier Inn has done in Blackburn, much better than people expected, to see that there is an untapped market.

"There is no reason why this sort of development would not do well in Darwen as well, it deserves the same treatment."

Frankie's Bar lay empty and derelict until Mr Pang's application to demolish it was approved in August 2015.

Mr Pang bought the premises in Church Street at an auction in 2014 and plans to use his extensive experience in the hotel trade to bring a new venture to boost Darwen's night life and visitor trade.

Darwen MP Jake Berry said that he would welcome the development providing it fit in with the town's current look.

He said: "I hope that any development will be in keeping with the unique heritage and traditional look of other surrounding buildings in Darwen, however this sounds like a very welcomed development indeed."

Cllr Simon Huggill, of the Marsh House ward, equally had slight concerns about how a large hotel would look in the area, particularly being right next St Peter's Church.

He said: "My first thought on hearing about this application is I hope that the applicant has done his market research, as we already have things like the Whitehall Hotel and a number of guest houses in Darwen.

"With it being four floors as well, my second thought is that the height maybe a problem and not look great next to a listed church.

"It's been talked about before this type of development and I do wonder whether whether is is in fact a market for this or not."

Mr Pang was unavailable to comment.