A FORMER Roman Catholic social hub is set to become a charity shop.

In January Age UK Lancashire applied for planning permission to convert the vacant Vincent Farrel Community Centre in Temple Street, Burnley.

Now councillors are been recommended to approve the change for the Bank Hall hub which is named after a missionary priest from the town.

The decision is set to be taken by Burnley Council's development control committee on Thursday.

The shop would be able to open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.

Age UK Lancashire has told the authority's planners: “Charity shops are crucial to the work of the organisation. They help raise much-needed cash.

“The addition of a new store in Burnley will further cement the commitment of the charity to providing services to the people of the town.

“The shop will employ four full-time staff and a team of volunteers and with the majority being from Burnley.

"The proposed use will also not just be a retail outlet, but a community hub. The development will bring a vacant building back into use.”

A planning officer's report recommending approval with five conditions tells councillors: "The Diocese of Salford - the building owner – supports the application.

"The building hasn’t been booked for a community centre use ‘for some time’ and that use is no longer considered viable.

"It is felt that the proposal has merit given the intended user is a charity, the intention is to sell goods in the manner of a charity shop to persons living nearby, and ancillary elements such as provision of advice are intended to serve the local community.

"Given the number of charity shops in Burnley presently, it is not considered that the proposal will impact upon the vitality and viability of the town centre .

"The proposal is contrary to policy in that it is a retail use outside the town centre and involves the loss of a community facility.

"However the proposed user is Age UK Lancashire whose intention is to operate a charity shop with ancillary advisory facilities.

"Very much on balance it is considered that a permission personal to Age UK Lancashire in its capacity as a charity is the correct decision."