PLANS to build 31 new apartments on the site of a former council office block have been refused - over proposals for its windows.

Burnley Council has rejected a proposal submitted by AJP Surveyors Ltd, a housing association based in Burnley, to convert a former council office building into accommodation in Nicholas Street, Burnley.

The site was formerly occupied by Burnley Council as offices but has been vacant since 2012.

The applicant, who submitted the proposal in February, wanted to convert the buildings into a flat complex which would include 25 one-bedroom flats and six two-bedroom apartments over the ground, first and second floors.

However officers at Burnley Council have rejected the plans because of concern relating to the loss and ‘inappropriate’ design of the proposed replacements of historic windows of the grade two listed buildings.

This is the second time the housing firm applied for planning permission to turn the building into flats after council officers refused the application on the same basis back in August last year.

In the council report, a spokesman said: “It is considered that the surviving historic windows are an integral part of the design of the heritage asset and make a valuable contribution to the character and physical integrity of this prominent listed row in the conservation area.

“It is considered that the applicant has not gone far enough in providing a sufficiently robust case to demonstrate that the harm is unavoidable.

“The removal of the existing windows and their replacement with inappropriately designed frames would cause less than substantial harm to the significance of this designated heritage asset.”

The applicant said it was ‘disappointed’ by the council’s decision and could appeal the decision in the near future.

A spokesman for AJP Surveyors Ltd said: “It’s disappointing. It’s not the decision we wanted or the one we expected.

“We are still talking to the council about it at the moment. The plan is not dead at this stage.

“I do not know if we will appeal at this stage but we are considering it.”

Council leader Mark Townsend said: “Overall I welcome any developer trying to invest in these properties.

“I know there is a balance to be struck between bringing them back into use for a useful purpose and maintaining the heritage of the building.

“I hope there will be a resolution between the planner and developer in the not too distant future.”