THE dramatic redesign of a historic row of buildings at the heart of a £3.8 million town centre heritage refurbishment has new been given the official planning seal of approval.

Councillors have also granted retrospective permission for the emergency demolition of half of Blakey Moor Terrace, opposite Blackburn’s King George’s Hall.

The rethink was caused by unexpected structural damage caused by powerful storms earlier this year.

The application and linked listed building consent request for the 1800s buildings were approved unanimously by Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee on Thursday last week

The redevelopment is a key part of the £3.8m Blakey Moor Townscape Heritage Project to create a new leisure and cultural quarter in Blackburn.

When builders started work they discovered the storms in February had left part of the terrace structurally unsound and beyond economic repair. It has now been knocked down.

Now the council has planning approval for the redesigned terrace including a curved frontage where the former Subway unit was located.

The cost of the new design - which will feature a single licensed restaurant rather than the originally proposed two - is less than rebuilding the end of the terrace to the original design.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith said: "The new design was welcomed by everybody."

A report by planning officer Nick Blackledge said: "The development will deliver a quality scheme which will significantly enhance the Blakey Moor Terrace and the wider Northgate Conservation Area setting.

"The proposal will invigorate the terrace whilst providing a viable new use, and will have wider benefits."