THE developers behind a proposal to turn the vacant top two floors of a landmark town centre building into 30 studio flats for young professionals have been told they need more cycle spaces.

Lancashire County Council's Highways Department say the planned store for six bicycles is inadequate and must be increased to hold 30.

They have also said the owner of The Burtons Building on Blackburn Road in Accrington that a yard space for bins must be retained in the proposal.

London-based Stuart Hammond want to revive the iconic inter-war former store opposite Accrington Town Hall for 'urban living' and restore its frontage as part of a Heritage Lottery-funded initiative.

The county council highways department's response to the planning applications says: "The six spaces are not sufficient. As the proposals is for 30 flats then 30 cycle spaces are required. One per flat.

"Consideration should be given to increasing the amount of cycle provision by using space savers such as double-decker cycle racks or multi-capacity horizontal two-tier bike parking racks."

It also says: "It must be noted that a degree of yard space should be retained as part of the proposals.

"The applicant should ensure that there will be sufficient space in the area rear of the property to accommodate all refuse bins, to avoid refuse migrating and ultimately being left on the back street while still maintain pedestrian access."

The proposal would retain existing shops on the ground floor.

The design and access statement submitted with the application says the design of the 30 new studio flats with communal areas ‘has specifically been chosen to serve young singles providing an affordable just-starting out rental’.