A FORMER Burnley church which was being used as a £250,000 cannabis farm is set to become a social enterprise.

Supporters of the Peace Education Mission have secured planning permission to convert the former Burnley Lane Baptist Church.

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Last month, police found more than 600 cannabis plants had been grown, under a sophisticated set-up involving high-powered lamps and foil, at the grade-two listed building in Colne Road.

The discovery shocked the building’s landlords, Mezbaan International Foods, but it is not thought the find will hamper the mission’s efforts to transform the building.

The mission’s Sye Ali told planners: “The change of use is for charitable and social-enterprise purposes, to include training and education rooms for homeless and excluded groups, especially black and ethnic-minority women.

“There will also be accommodation for a caretaker, a retail community shop selling furniture, food, pots, pans and household items, offices and a conference hall.”

He confirmed that there would be no internal alterations sought as part of the project by the Blackburn-based organisation, which is looking to create four full-time and four part-time posts through the venture.

It comes after one of the previous tenants, an e-warehouse, fell foul of planning regulations by ripping out a number of original features of the church, part of which dates back to 1787.

The horseshoe balcony, gateposts, pews, organ loft and internal windows were all lost when the building was redeveloped three years ago.

Proposals were given the green light by Burnley Council’s development-control committee, after hearing from Lancashire County Council that the scheme met parking and highway standards.

Neighbours had objected to the scheme, submitting a petition signed by 21 residents from13 nearby households.

They feared it would become a cash-and-carry outlet.