A CAR showroom that turned a residential part of Darwen into ‘Silverstone’, according to a councillor, is set to be granted planning permission.

Residents have presented a 100-signature petition to the council complaining that their streets were being swamped by test drivers and delivery cars.

Croft Trade Centre opened without permission last year in Bottom Croft mill, a former home of plastic bag manufacturer Europlast, off Blackburn Road.

Retrospective applications are permitted under planning law and now the business, which sells second-hand cars via the internet, has asked for consent from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Officers have recommended that permission is granted when the committee meets on Thursday night.

Despite residents’ objections, ward councillor Dave Smith said a satisfactory compromise had been found through planning conditions which would be imposed on the business.

Deliveries will have to be made via the Blackburn Road entrance rather than Avondale Road, and the mill car park could not be used for storage of vehicles.

Comparing the operation to the home of British motor racing, he said: “It was like Silverstone to begin with.

"There must have been about 60 vehicles on the car park, using access from Avondale Road. Hopefully we’ve got it sorted now.”

But fellow Sunnyhurst member Tony Melia was less happy.

He said: “I fully support the residents’ position.

“These guys moved in pretty much overnight, and the next minute it was full of cars for sale.”