Unauthorised alterations to a heritage-listed building in a town centre conservation area are to be debated on Thursday.

The owner of The Lawrence Hotel in Church Street, Padiham, added two electric awnings, a sign and three air-conditioning units to the Georgian building without planning approval or listed building consent.

After a Burnley Council investigation he applied for backdated permission for the alterations.

On Thursday the authority's development control committee will be recommended to grant retrospective approval for the changes to building in the Padiham Conservation Area,

A planning officer's report says: "This application follows investigation of a suspected breach of planning control.

"A breach was found to have occurred and in this case officers consider the submission of a retrospective planning application is an appropriate way forward to regularise the situation.

"This application is presented to committee as three objections have been received.

"This application relates to The Lawrence Hotel, a stone-built property.

"The hotel comprises numbers 26 and 28 Church Street, attractive late Georgian buildings fronting Church Street that have been integrated and remodelled to form a single unit with additional accommodation located in later extensions

"Number 28 Church Street is a heritage asset of high significance reflected in its Grade II listing.

"Its external qualities including its balanced facade, classical proportions and quality of materials combine to form a distinguished example of late Georgian domestic architecture that retains the outer appearance of its principal facades largely unaltered.

"This application seeks retrospective planning permission and listed building consent to regularise the installation of three external air conditioning units to side and two awnings with non-illuminated hotel name to front.

"The applicant considers air conditioning is paramount to the comfort of guests using the function and guest rooms.

"This is expected of a modern hotel and without which, the hotel would struggle to compete with other venues.

"The awnings were installed in 2020 to enable customers to comfortably dine outdoors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The applicant considers the awnings are a vitally important providing shelter to the main outdoor space used largely for wedding parties enabling the hotel to compete with other venues.

"The proposal is considered to have an acceptable impact on the appearance of the host building and wider area, the conclusion being that the alterations relate appropriately to the listed building, they are justified and proportionate and would facilitate the long-term viable use of the building in support of its conservation."