Plans to change an office and storage premises within a former bank into a three-bedroom apartment have been refused by the council.

In July, Oliver Black applied to Rossendale Council seeking permission to change part of the old TSB branch in Deardengate, Haslingden, into a three-bed flat.

The building already has planning permission for apartments, with a planning statement saying the suggestion of an additional unit would not be inappropriate.

However, plans for the building, which used to be a TSB bank were refused by Rossendale Council last week.

A planning statement read: “The change of use takes place within the first and second floors of the former TSB Bank, which is also being converted into apartments under a previously approved application.

“This previous application was done under prior notification concerning the first and second floors to become one-bed apartments.

“This report supports the change of use from offices/associated bank storage to a residential dwelling.

"The entire building currently has approval for the conversion of a TSB Bank to apartments, so the suggestion of an additional apartment is more than appropriate in this context.

“There has been great consideration regarding the building’s heritage, specifically relating to the elevations and aesthetics and how the retention of the external characteristics was a key element to be considered.

“The current proposal of a change of use doesn’t contain any external alterations, in terms of heritage, no assets are to be affected by this proposal.”

The plans were refused, but the reasoning behind the refusal is yet to be published by Rossendale Council.