A CONVERSION plan to rescue a canal warehouse at Church from dereliction has won the support of borough councillors.

But the proposal to convert the boarded-up Blackburn Road building into offices could go to a public inquiry.

The Health and Safety Executive had advised councillors to refuse planning permission because the four-storey warehouse is close to the W M Blythe chemical plant.

The HSE now has 21 days to consider making representations to the Secretary of State to 'call in' the application for his decision.

The condition of the grade two listed building, which backs on to the canal, has deteriorated over the years.

Council leader George Slynn told Hyndburn development services committee: "We face a real dilemma. If we wait long enough, possibly one or two winters, the decision will be made for us. "It is not a listed building which is hidden away, it is at a prominent gateway into the borough."

The refurbishment plan involves offices on the ground, first and second floors, with storage on the third floor.

The HSE said offices must be limited to the ground and first floors only, and no more than 16 employees should be allowed on site.

Councillors were told that restricting the total number of employees made the project uneconomic and completely unviable for the applicant, who was willing to accept any emergency plan for evacuation of the premises in the event of an incident.

The county surveyor said the proposed development would add considerably to traffic movements near a busy traffic light junction and that the site access itself was sub-standard.

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