PLANS have been lodged proposing to convert a former Cantonese restaurant into flats.

An application has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council regarding the former Mister Fu’s restaurant in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Developers are hoping to turn the former restaurant into seven one-bed flats.

Matthew Wyatt of PWA Planning said: “The design of the internal layout has sought to ensure that future occupants will benefit from a good level of amenity.

“There are no habitable rooms that are subject to direct overlooking from other properties and it is anticipated that any disturbance as a result of daily activity at adjacent units will be minimal.

“For example, bedrooms have purposely located away from the bathrooms of adjacent flats to reduce noise from plumbing.

“Given the density of buildings and properties in the locality, it is anticipated that existing residents will also benefit from an improvement to their amenity as a result of the proposal.

"It will remove a late-night (and unrestricted) commercial use that is likely to generate frequent comings and goings from customers and servicing vehicles, noise from kitchen extraction plant and cooking odours.

“In comparison to the fall-back option, the change of use is likely to place less pressure surrounding streets for on-street parking.”

Mister Fu’s on Blackburn Road in Darwen was boarded up in April, after owners failed to secure a deal to purchase the building.

Ross Campbell and Graham Melia said there were negotiations for private investors to purchase the building – which used to be The George pub – from Thwaites, with a view to those investors then agreeing to a long term lease.

Mister Fu’s in Darwen was bought from Harry Fu in 2012, before he died in 2013. Mr Fu also owned the Bolton Road restaurant Master Fu’s. His son Ming Fu ran a similar establishment on Preston New Road.

Mr Wyatt added: "The flats will each have a bedroom, kitchen with living room and bathroom, with the rooms having been designed to comply with both the latest building and fire regulations.

"The design moreover looks to ensure that bedrooms are kept away from the bathrooms of adjoining units, to ensure that there is no unreasonable level of disturbance generated as a result of noise from running water or flushing toilets etc.

"The planning application does not seek to provide any private, off-street parking for residents. However, each flat will benefit from covered and secure cycle storage facilities within the rear yard amenity space.

"The site’s location adjacent to an existing bus stop along Blackburn Road also ensures that future occupants will have access to regular public transport links.