A PRIME development spot in Darwen town centre is due to be auctioned off today.

The land, which has a guide price of £600,000, has planning permission for a four-storey hotel with 34 rooms as well as 17 car parking spaces.

It was previously put on the market for more than £1million.

In September approval was given for the hotel on land in Church Street previously occupied by Frankie’s Bar.

The pub site lay empty and derelict until an application to demolish it was approved in August last year.

The original plans were proposed by Cyberbase Ltd but the plot is now being advertised on property site www.rightmove.com.

A spokesman for the site said: “The site has full planning granted for the development of a four-storey hotel with 34 rooms, 17 parking spaces and a breakfast room/ bar and spa.

“The property is prominently situated in a corner position at the junction of Church Street and Bank Street.

“Nearby occupiers include Asda, Iceland, Superdrug, Boots the Chemist, The Co-Operative, Barclays, Natwest and Santander.”

The Darwen Central Conservative Club used to occupy the site, which was then used by Frankie’s Bar prior to extensive fire damage in 2012.

The site is currently vacant and protected by temporary hoarding.

The auction organised by Lot 11 will take place between 2.30pm and 2.40pm this afternoon.

For more call 02070 431991.