PLANS for a gin bar or retail unit on the site of a former popular Burnley nightclub have been given the green light.

Neil Crossley submitted an application for the change of use of sandwich shop and nightclub to retail use or gin bar on the site of the former Posh Nightclub and Rum Jungle site on Yorke Street in Burnley.

Councillors agreed to the plans and the gin bar could be set to be open from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 8am and 1am and then on Sundays from 9am until midnight.

The bar will be on the ground floor with a seating and lounge area while upstairs there will be restrooms and also a lounge area.

In the plans submitted to planners, the applicants played down concerns that the scheme would be taking place in a conservation area.

The design and access statement said: “The proposals will maintain the general form and shape of this building, which is designed as a corner building at the Yorke Street and Ormerod Street junction.

“The new shop front is of a traditional style with a fascia reflective of a Victorian shop front design, which is appropriate to this locality.

“The existing state of the building onto Yorke Street is in a state of disrepair and these proposals would be an improvement to the building’s appearance.

"The proposals will also bring back a functional use to the building that will add to the vibrancy of this locality.

“The impact on the Conservation Area is therefore positive as they will represent an uplift to the general appearance of the locality.”

Cllr Shah Hussain said: “I think it is another sort of attraction that would be created for people to come into the town centre and developing the night-time economy.

“It is a positive project and I think it is good news that will be bring some jobs to the area.

“Gin bars are very popular places currently and it would help bring people into Burnley.”