PLANS to turn a ‘derelict’ town centre shop into a cafe and bar have been submitted.

Applicant David Nicol has put forward a scheme for the vacant Darwen Appliance Centre in Duckworth Street.

The shop was previously occupied by a retailer and repairer of domestic electrical goods.

The venue would offer coffee and soft drinks as well as alcohol with cold food, such as cakes and sandwiches, during the daytime.

It is the intended the cafe would later become a bar and open between 9am and midnight.

In planning documents on behalf of applicant Mr Nicol, agent John Hodkinson, said the building was currently ‘derelict’ and needed ‘complete renovation’.

He said: “The granting of planning permission will guarantee the renovation of the building, bringing it back into use.”

The documents state that Mr Nicol and his business partner have a long lease on the building.

They said they were local people with experience of running a bar in Darwen, having previously had the Sky Bar on Wellington Fold which closed ‘due to a difference with the landlord of the property.’

A previous planning application to use the property as a hot food takeaway was refused in January this year.

There is an appeal to the planning inspectorate against the refusal.

Agent Mr Hodkinson said: “The applicant has started work on the building in anticipation of obtaining planning permission including replacement of a collapsed floor.

“Other major works will not be carried out unless permission is granted.

“The applicants have shown their commitment by taking a long lease on the building and starting renovation.

“The previous application was refused because of ‘the proposed development would result in less than 70 per cent remaining A1 uses in the defined primary shopping frontage’.

“The cafe/bar is more likely than a takeaway to contribute to vitality and viability because it will be open in the daytime as well as evenings.”

He added: “Realistically there is little prospect of a new retail occupier. The proposed use will attract more footfall than the previous use for domestic appliance sales and repairs.”