A vacant site in the centre of Blackburn could be redeveloped as the new home for two businesses.

The land, at the junction of New Garden Street and Eccles Street off Bolton Road, has been earmarked for a new commercial unit comprising a warehouse, workshop, retail space with associated offices.

They would house a car parts business and furniture showroom.

Akber Sange has applied for planning permission from Blackburn with Darwen Council for the new buildings.

Supporting statements with the application say: "The proposal seeks to erect a warehouse, workshop, offices and retail unit on the land bound by Eccles Street and New Garden Street.

"The site is vacant following the demolition of a modern commercial building.

"The proposed building is a two-storey which occupies the entire site, which is not uncommon for commercial properties within this area.

"The proposal is to use traditional scale, massing and form similar to the historic industrial buildings found within the area, combined with a simple uncluttered and contemporary appearance.

"The businesses that are to be located in the new building are established businesses that require new premises to enable the business to operate more efficiently.

"The two businesses are Majrona Karparts (trading as Moffats) and Furniture Technique.

"Currently Majrona Karpats is trading from a shop unit at 157/159 Bolton Road, but the business has outgrown this unit and is in need of more floor area for storage of spare parts.

"Furniture Technique is a kitchen supply company that previously occupied the application site in the building that has now been demolished.

"Furniture Technique requires a showroom, assembly workshop space and storage.

"Since the car parts business needs more space and the kitchen business requires a display showroom it is logical that the kitchen business showroom would occupy the Bolton Road unit with its display shopfront visible from the main road.

"The car parts business operates mainly via telephone orders, so the shop front is less important, and would occupy the proposed unit to the rear.

"The workshop and storage required by Furniture Technique will also be accommodated by the proposed new building.

"The new building replaces what was lost through demolition and the two businesses are swapping one premises for the other.

"The car spares business will relocate to the new structure with the kitchen design showroom that was formerly on the site to be located in the current shop unit on the corner of New Garden Street and Bolton Road."