A car showroom is to be turned into a children's play centre and cafe after the council approved a change of use application.

Fun Motor Group Limited on Branch Road in Lower Darwen is to be turned into a children's play centre called The Little Lancashire Village after an application was submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council by a Mrs Harker in November last year.

The Little Lancashire Village is already a successful business that operates in Burnley and will be the second centre that the directors would open, believing that Darwen is the ideal location for a centre of this type.

Supporting documents submitted with the application noted that the vision of the project was to deliver high quality, scaled down, real life play units (e.g. café, supermarket and post office) where children up to the age of seven can learn through role play.

The type of play on offer has been proven stimulate imagination, enhance social development and leadership skills while encouraging friendships through cooperation, listening and turn taking.

The planning statement read: "Imagination based play is a vital activity for our children and is supported within the Early Years Curriculum.

"We will offer pre-defined play sessions, booked online in advance with set numbers per session so that each child can enjoy the experience to the full.

"As each session ends, the play units will be restored to their original state ensuring the next group of children can enjoy the wow factor.

"Every prop will be returned to the right place to stimulate curiosity and inventiveness and this regular cleaning ensures hygienic, well maintained play areas."

There are plans for directors to engage with local groups so all children can enjoy the centre, with an offer of separate sessions for children with additional needs as they already provide at their Burnley premise.

The centre will initially be run by the one of the company directors and they will recruit for members of staff to help run the centre.

The centre at Burnley currently employs two full time members of staff, three part-time and three weekend staff.

Suggested opening hours are from 9.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Sunday but the centre will be closed for one day a week during the week.

Three bookable sessions a day will be offered, with private sessions available for parties at weekends.

Limits on the number of adults and children per session will also be enforced using an online booking system.

The property on Branch Road has its own dedicated car park and the maximum number of parking spaces required at any one time would be for 12 families, plus one member of staff making 13/14 parking spaces – roughly the same as the amount available and not including parking available in around the corner along Branch Road and Sandy Lane alongside the building if needed.

The planning statement continued: "The parking situation will be constantly monitored to ensure ease of parking for customers and our neighbours."

Blackburn with Darwen Council granted permission for the plans on January 27.