The manager of a cancer charity who applied to transform a residential home into a charity shop and community centre has had her plans approved.

Kirsty Gallacher, of BE Bosom Friends in Barnoldswick, lodged plans with Pendle Council last year seeking to change a house in Frank Street in the town into a charity shop at ground floor level with a community centre on the first floor.

A planning statement submitted alongside the application read: “BE Bosom Friends has been supporting people with cancer for the last 18 years.

“The current community centre is on Green Street, where regular fundraising events take place and monthly support meetings are held.

“The charity shop located off Ellis Street is stocked with good quality pre-worn clothing and accessories, a fabulous array of books, lots of music for all ages, furniture, and lots more.

“The charity has purchased 7 Frank Street to bring all their supporting structure under one roof.”

The plans include re-instating the shop front with a traditional timber frontage in keeping with the conservation area and to meet the design guides.

The ground floor will operate as the shop and the community centre and meeting room will be at first floor.

It is proposed to remove existing internal walls to provide a larger shop area, with disabled facilities, a platform lift internally provides access to the first-floor community space, again removing walls will provide a larger space for meetings.

The planning statement went on: “The existing stone surround and PVC-U windows and doors will be removed, and a new hardwood timber shop front will be installed, the entrance door set back to match with the adjoining property.

“Whilst wheelchair access should be from Frank Street, the footpath is clearly not wide enough to accommodate this alteration and would be detrimental on the conservation area.

"It is proposed to utilise the rear access into the premises via a small ramp and altered access door to allow access.

“Wheelchair users wanting to attend meetings will have access via a new platform lift located internally.”

Plans were approved at the end of January with a report to the planning committee reading: “The Environmental Health consultee has suggested conditions regarding hours of operation and control of music in respect of the proposed first floor use.

“The proposed retail use is unlikely to impact upon users of attached property at ground floor level, i.e. the Post Office and the hairdressing salon.

“Use of the first floor as a community centre has potential to cause disturbance to residents of the flat above the hairdressing salon unless that use is controlled by conditions.

“I would suggest conditions restricting operating hours and amplified sound.

“Note that the application form states intended hours of operation as Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm and Saturday 10am until 12pm with no intended opening on Sundays and bank holidays. These hours of operation are acceptable in this location.”