A UNIT in a historic listed building can continue to be used as a joinery workshop, councillors have decided.

Chaudrey Mohammed Yaseen submitted a backdated planning application to change the use of the workshop in the Old Fire Station in Byrom Street, Blackburn, from storage to manufacturing furniture.

His application to regularise the operation of the bespoke joinery workshop in the building’s Yaseen Enterprise Centre was approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council Planning Committee on Thursday.

The permission restricted the unit's future use to joinery and included six conditions to limit the noise produced by the change and ensure it was properly ventilated.

Mr Yaseen’s application sparked two petitions to the council - one in favour and one against as well as several letters of objection.

In August 2019 Historic England gave the Byrom Street building a Grade II-listed designation.

The retrospective application was submitted following complaints to the council from local residents about noise and disturbance.