Plans to turn a ground-floor flat into a hot food takeaway in an East Lancashire town have been approved.

Andy Kirkham, of Thwaites Chippery Ltd, sought permission from Ribble Valley Borough Council to change the use of the flat in Whalley Road, Clitheroe.

The plans also include installing a new extraction flue system at the rear and installing a new shop front.

A planning statement submitted to the council back in September said: “Whalley Road is one of the main traffic routes into the town centre.

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"The two blocks of terrace properties are predominantly commercial properties possibly with flats above.

"There are four hot food takeaways: Whalley Road Chippy, Taste of India, King of Kebabs, and Vesuvio Italian.

“The application site comprises a mid-terrace three-store property on the north side of Whalley Road. The ground floor and first/second floor currently comprise of self-contained apartments which are currently vacant.

“The proposal is to change the use of the currently vacant ground floor self-contained apartment into a hot food takeaway, with retail sales and a kitchen and prep area. The existing bathroom will be removed and scaled down to only provide a WC and sink for the staff.

“Currently the first-floor apartment is vacant but will be occupied by the applicant and his partner.

“The application site is in a highly sustainable location close to public transport and in walking distance of numerous residential properties. It is feasible that not all customers will access the site by car. There are no parking restrictions outside the site.”

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The statement also noted the other long-established takeaways on the same road and the potential for an increase in noise but felt the addition of another singular establishment would not significantly add to this.

The plans have been approved despite three objections being lodged with the council, all of which expressed there were already too many takeaways along this stretch of road.

One letter said: “There are already two pizza takeaways, a kebab takeaway, a chicken takeaway, a fish and chip shop, a Chinese restaurant that does takeaway, and a [takeaway] that does burgers, all within 100 yards of each other.”

It also stated in the plans that should the plans be approved, which they were last week by council planners, customers will be encouraged to pre-order food through a website which books a timeslot for collection, though walk-in customers will be accepted as well.

With approval now gained, work can begin within the next three years.