A new Blackburn town centre restaurant is on the way in a former insurance office.
Zeshan Khan can now convert the site in Darwen Street into a restaurant employing three staff.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted planning permission for the change of use of the former Riding Insurance office, with the installation of an extraction flue to the rear of the premises.
However, planners have put restrictions on the site banning it from selling food to be taken away, and restrictions have been put on opening hours.
A planning officer’s report recommending approval with five conditions says: “The application site is a mid-terrace commercial property situated on the western side of Darwen Street, Blackburn.
“The host building is located within the Darwen Street Conservation Area.
"Planning permission is sought for a change of use of the existing retail shop to a restaurant.
“At ground floor, it will comprise a restaurant area for customers with a counter, food cooking area, and a back area for the kitchen/washing area and a food prep area.
“At first floor, there will be a storage room and a staff room. The proposal also includes the installation of an extraction flue to the rear.
“The application site is located within the primary shopping area.
“Therefore, the proposal is consistent with the Local Plan, which supports development involving main town centre uses, and goes on to add ‘protecting and enhancing the leisure offer and developing an evening economy’.
“Support is offered for a mix of complementary uses and seeks to guard against cumulative impacts arising from a concentration of similar uses, i.e. hot food takeaways, betting offices and amusement arcades within a particular area.
“The proposal seeks the change of use to a restaurant, and no conflict arises with the above policy requirement.
“This being said, a condition will be attached to the decision to ensure that no food is sold for consumption away from the site.
“Given the changing use to a restaurant, it seems reasonable to control the hours of opening, given the identified relationship to neighbour residential uses.
“As such, to protect amenity from any excessive noise disturbance associated with the extraction flue and general activity from people in the early morning/late night, a condition is to be attached to restrict the hours of use from 12pm to 11pm.
“The proposed change of use would retain an active commercial use at the ground floor level, which is consistent with the historic and prevailing character of the conservation area.
“The site is located in the town centre core and close to on-street parking opportunities and public car parks.”
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