Plans to turn a heritage-listed vacant Accrington town centre building last used as offices into 10 flats and a house have been submitted as part of a wider scheme to regenerate a historic complex.

Kim Landa, of the Landa Corporation, wants to convert the property in Abbey Street, originally the Red Lion Inn coaching inn and innkeeper’s house.

He has submitted a planning application, for the change to the Grade II heritage-listed row of buildings, to Hyndburn Council.

Mr Landa has submitted a separate planning application to convert a nearby property in Black Abbey Street, a derelict fire-damaged former furniture store, into six apartments.

He has also asked Hyndburn Council for planning permission to converts other properties in Black Abbey Street and one in Jacob Street, Accrington, into two houses and eight apartments.

Lancashire Telegraph: The plans would see the buildings renovatedThe plans would see the buildings renovated

Supporting documents read: "The existing buildings have been vacant since 2020, formerly functioning as offices and retail spaces.

"In its current state, the buildings are in poor condition, and the listed buildings are at risk of decline if left unmanaged and unoccupied.

"The site being in close proximity to the town centre, which hosts several high-quality and local historic interest buildings, the site is not currently meeting its full potential.

"The proposal is for the full conversion and part-refurbishment of an existing building to residential scheme consisting of 11 units (one house and 10 apartments)."

If approved, the plans would see the following created on the sites:

  • One one-bedroom duplex apartment;
  • One two-bedroom duplex apartment;
  • One three-bedroom dwelling;
  • Four two-bedroom apartments;
  • Four one-bedroom apartments.

The plans go on to say: "A priority to the proposal is to reinstate all the historic features.

"The roof of the building will be restored to its original form. The proposal is believed to bring a lot of public benefits.

"It will contribute to the preservation of traditional features of the historical and architecturally interesting building; enhance the vitality and viability of Accrington Town Centre by increasing footfall; attract high-quality development and refurbishments along Abbey Street, Black Abbey Street and Accrington Town Centre; and protect and preserve the Grade II listed buildings on site as well as the historic attributes of the town as one of the few remaining coaching inn and cowhouse farm sites in the North West of England.

"We feel that the proposal would be a valuable addition to the area by providing high-quality and well-designed houses and apartments to the historic town centre of Accrington."