PLANS for an extra shop along a busy route in Blackburn have won the backing of a government planning inspector.

Babar Tawasin had been turned down when he applied to the borough council for permission to convert a residential property at 235 Accrington Road into a store.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But he appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and an expert has ruled his application, complete with a new shopfront, should be allowed, as it would not interfere with other business premises.

Planning inspector Mark Dakeyne said: “The parade of shops has the outward appearance of being reasonably healthy. Its vitality and viability would be unlikely to be significantly affected by a small shop close by.”

The shop was allowed on the proviso that the opening hours were restricted to 7am to 11pm and any further installation of roller shutters was agreed by the planning authority.