Former town centre pub to become nine flats

The top three floors of the former Thwaites House in Blackburn, will be converted into nine apartments

A historic town centre building once home to a flagship pub is to become nine flats for young professionals.

The top three floors of the former Thwaites House on the corner of Railway Road and Church Street, Blackburn, can now be converted into apartments.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved a scaled-down version of a planning application for 14 flats submitted in November.

After discussions between the applicant Nazia Shah of the Urban Future Planning Consultancy Ltd the number of apartments in the proposal was reduced from 14 to nine.

'Vibrant'

Planning permission has been granted for two three bedroom and seven two bedroom self-contained flats.

This was despite an objection because a music studio occupying part of the building would be forced to close or relocate.

The Victorian building, once Thwaites Brewery's The White Bull Hotel, is the latest of several to turn older buildings in Blackburn town centre into residential apartments.

A report by planning officer Martin Kenny recommending approval with five conditions said no external alterations are proposed to the building's facade.

It said: "The proposed development would create additional residential units within Blackburn town centre and would support the re-use of a vacant building and help contribute to a vibrant town centre.

"Whilst the scheme is located within a primary shopping area, the proposal relates to non-ground floor levels and would not be considered to weaken the availability of premises in the town.

"The town centre location provides access to green open spaces, as well as leisure opportunities such as the public leisure centre and gyms."