MORE than 30 jobs could be created as part of £1.5million plans to open a petrol station and drive-through food retailer.

Blackburn-based Euro Garages has submitted proposals to Rossendale Council for the former Bacup Hub site in Burnley Road.

Under the bid, a five-pump petrol station able to service 10 vehicles at a time and a retail store with a drive-thru would be erected.

While the plans also comprise of two jet washes with air and vacuum, an electric charging point and provision for 14 parking spaces.

The current building, which has lain empty for a number of years and fallen into a state of disrepair would be demolished.

In April 2017, 18 months after it was put up for sale, the developer bought the former Bacup Leisure Hall site, which had hosted events and functions for more than two decades.

Euro Garages has confirmed that one of the on-site brands will be Greggs, while the retail and food brands are still to be confirmed.

In total, 33 jobs would be created from the plans, including eight full-time and 25 part-time positions.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages said that Burnley Road is a busy through road which will ‘benefit from the site, new jobs and providing some leading retail/food-to-go brands to people in the area'.

In its planning statement on behalf of Euro Garages, Preston-based PWA Planning, said: “It has been demonstrated that the proposed development of a petrol filling station, inclusive of ancillary retail store and drive through café / food unit, together with various works following demolition of existing buildings and subsequent site clearance represents an entirely appropriate form of development within the application site and should be welcomed and supported.

“The works would result in the active re-use of a vacant, strategically located site which will bring a significant boost to the local economy and will increase job opportunities, which should both be considered major, material gains in the overall planning balance. “

Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton said something needed to be done about the ‘eyesore’ site.

Cllr Eaton, who used to hold a number of fundraising events at the leisure hall, including a Mayor’s ball which raised thousands of pounds, said: “It’s been empty for a number of years and has become an eyesore which has been targeted by vandals.

“All the windows in the building have been boarded up, so something needs to be done there.”

If planning permission is granted, it is hoped construction for the new development would start in late 2017 with it then opening in the summer of 2018.