Retrospective plans to convert part of a restaurant and bar into a takeaway in Darwen have been approved.

The application, to split one unit into two in The Circus, has been granted full planning permission by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The changes to the building had already been made without the required permission, but the changes have now been approved in retrospect.

The building had originally been one venue, but it has since been divided into two, with one offering a restaurant and bar and the other converted into a takeaway.

The takeaway operates as ‘Grizzlers’, which is next door to the now closed Sunbird Records.

Alongside the takeaway, the unit will also be operated as a restaurant and bar, but there are no further details in the plans about what style of restaurant this will be or when it can be expected to open.

In approving the plans, planning officers at the council said the changes would not reduce the amount of retail offerings in the town so would not harm the shopping on offer in Darwen.

They acknowledged “the nature of the takeaway use has potential to harm amenity standards through the associated cooking smells” so conditions on extraction fans have been included in the approval notice.

A number of neighbours were consulted over the plans, but none responded.