Former dessert bar to become taxi office with no access

The vacant unit in Oak Street has been granted permission to operate as a private hire booking office, replacing a string of previous retail and food businesses that traded from the premises over the years.

But despite becoming a taxi base, the office will not be open to members of the public and is expected to be used only occasionally by a single member of staff.

Planning documents submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council say the premises are needed so the operator can obtain a private hire licence from the authority.

The taxi office will be barely used, as the owner needs an office in Blackburn to operate in the borough (Image: Google Earth)

The applicant said the business would primarily organise transport for schools and colleges, with the office serving as an administrative base rather than a traditional taxi office.

No customers will be able to walk in to make bookings, and there will be no waiting area for passengers or drivers.

The Oak Street unit has had a varied history. Council documents show it has previously been used as a travel agency, confectionery shop, ladieswear store, beauty business and, most recently, a dessert parlour.

However, planning officers concluded the proposed taxi office would have a lower impact on the surrounding area than many of those previous uses.

A report approving the application said the new operation would generate very little activity, with the office expected to be occupied only once or twice a week for a few hours at a time.

According to the submission, a lone staff member would use the premises mainly to organise driver rotas and carry out administrative work connected to school transport contracts.

The council's public protection team raised no objections to the scheme, subject to restrictions on how the premises can operate.

As part of the approval, the office can only be used between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.

Planning conditions have also been imposed to ensure the property cannot function as a conventional taxi office attracting customers, drivers or waiting vehicles.

Neighbours were consulted on the proposal and a site notice was displayed, but no objections were received.

Council planners subsequently approved the change of use under delegated powers.