Empty Blackburn pub to get new life as cafe and madrassah

Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of The Florence in Moss Street, Daisyfield, despite fears from a local business regarding traffic and parking.

The development by a Mr Ismail will see, on the ground floor a community café created offering a range of food and drink including freshly-made sandwiches, cakes, pastries and light bites and coffee, tea, fresh juices, and soft drinks.

It will serve as a social space for residents and visitors.

The scheme will see the first floor converted into a madrassah Islamic educational centre, providing religious and cultural education to children and adults in the local community.

Blackburn with Darwen Council received an objection from a nearby business concerned about whether the new cafe/madrassah would impact its operation in terms of parking, and the ability of 40-foot articulated vehicles using its site to safely negotiate the corner of Moss Street and Florence Street.

A planning officer’s report recommending approval with seven conditions says: “The site is at the corner of Moss Street and Florence Street, and comprises a detached two-storey building, constructed with red brick and slate hipped roof, with grounds to the side and rear.

“The building is currently vacant, though it has a long-standing use as a public house.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use to provide a café use at the ground floor and a madrassah at the first floor.

“The existing grounds are also identified as providing a dedicated car park.

“The site is in a predominantly residential location, though commercial uses are located on the southern side of Moss Street.

“Justification for the proposed change of use to café and madrassah can be found due to the long-standing use as a public house that would be replaced.

“The proposal also serves to bring a currently vacant unit back into meaningful use.

“It is acknowledged that the off-street provision does fall below the adopted standard.

“However, this amounts to significant betterment from the historical position, as the area was previously employed as a beer garden for the outgoing public house use.

“The outgoing use of the building, with potential rowdy and late-night activity as well as reliance upon on-street parking and servicing, is identified as having the potential to adversely affect the predominantly residential character of the locality.

“Conditions are also suggested to restrict the hours of operation of both the café use and first-floor madrassah use, as follows: café between 8am and 8pm, and madrassah between 9.30am and 7.30pm.”