Taxi firm's shop bid after workers left 'twiddling thumbs'

The proposal has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council for the unit in Railway Road, a single-storey property currently authorised for use as a taxi operators' office with no public access.

Applicant Waseem Hussain, who operates Trip Airport Transfers, the new trading name for Elton Darwen Taxis, wants to divide the premises between a taxi office and a small retail shop selling soft drinks and confectionery.

The application states: "Due to the large extent of the premises being underused, and with the Applicant twiddling his thumbs for most of time when in the office, is now proposing to transfer his desk into the existing brew area (9sqm), and utilise the rest of the area (21sqm) into retail use."

The taxi office is just over the road from Darwen Market (Image: NQ)

Under the plans, the taxi operation would continue, but from a smaller area at the rear of the building, while the front section would become a Class E retail shop.

The business would trade between 8am and 7pm, seven days a week.

A new shopfront is also proposed, though subject to a further application, replacing part of the existing stone frontage with a new glazed entrance and window display.

Planning documents say both the taxi office and shop would be run by Mr Hussain, with customers served through a counter.

Goods would generally be transported to the premises in the applicant's own vehicles and unloaded from the forecourt in front of the building.

But this new purpose for the building in Railway Road would be just the latest change to its use.

Most recently it was approved as an administrative taxi control office with no public access. Before that it served as the constituency office of former Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake Berry until his defeat at the 2024 General Election.

Blackburn with Darwen Council approved its conversion from a political office to a taxi booking hub late last year.

Planning documents submitted with the latest application state the premises has also previously operated as a taxi booking office and, before that, was granted permission for use as an estate agency and letting office.

The building would operate as part of a larger terrace on Railway Road already containing a number of businesses, and sits immediately next to Darwen Market, opposite The Old Chapel JD Wetherspoon pub.

Council planners will now decide whether the mixed taxi office and shop proposal should be approved.