A former town centre bank building is to become a new convenience store and two flats.

Planning permission has been granted to convert the shell of the Lloyds branch in Duckworth Street, Darwen.

It was the last bank in the town when it shut its doors in February 2022 because of falling customer numbers,.

Now Naviya Ltd can repurpose the building as ground floor retail premises with two apartments - one each on the first and second floors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted planning permission with six conditions for the conversion.

A report recommending approval by planning officer Tom Wiggans says: "The site lies within the primary shopping area of Darwen town centre, within the main urban boundary, and the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area.

"The flats would straddle two floors (first and second floor) and would be accessed from the rear via an external staircase.

"The retail use would have the main access at the front, as well as rear access to Back Duckworth Street.

"Hours of use for the retail use (convenience store) would be 8am until 8pm.

"There are no external modifications required.

"The vacant, former bank premises lie within Darwen town centre and have been vacant for some time.

"The applicant seeks to convert the ground floor to retail, with two three-bed flats above.

"This is considered the most appropriate form of housing given the local context/characteristics of the site.

"The proposal would make a positive contribution towards local housing land supply and create an active frontage, promote consumer choice, and add to the vibrancy of Darwen town centre, as well as creating jobs for local people."

Supporting statements submitted with a planning application by Urban Future Planning Consultancy Ltd say:"The dwellings will generate additional council tax revenue.

"Lloyds bank announced the closure of its Darwen branch due to declining visits in 2021.

"New figures show that more than one in eight bank branches in the UK open in January will be closed by the end of this year.

"The property is a mid-terraced building comprising a ground floor former banking hall with basement storage.

"Duckworth Street has a smaller scale feel characterised by modest stone-built two-storey buildings with ground floors shops which predate the railway.

"Many have been altered with modern shop fronts and new windows and bear little resemblance to their former early Victorian character."