Plans for flats in building opposite Blackburn Cathedral

If the application is successful, the old games centre behind Thwaites House on Railway Road will be converted into six studio flats for single occupancy.

Drawings of the proposed flats show that each would have a living room with a single bed and seating area, a bathroom with a toilet, washbasin and shower, and its own kitchen.

Urban Future Planning Consultancy, based in Leeds, has submitted plans for the site, which backs onto Blackburn Cathedral.

The flats would be on the first floor, with the ground floor designated for parking, cycle storage, and bin storage.

According to the documents submitted with the plans, the building was previously used as a snooker hall and has been vacant for an extended period of time.

“Planning permission has been granted to convert the first, second, and third floors of the adjacent Thwaites House into residential units.

 

“This part of the site, located to the rear, is vacant, and the applicant confirms that no commercial interest has been expressed in the site’s re-use.

“The application site is located within the designated Cathedral Conservation Area, and the adjacent Thwaites House is a notable building/feature.”

Externally, the scheme would involve the installation of three sets of windows on the northwest side.

The plans also state that “the proposal will make a positive contribution to local housing land supply in times of chronic undersupply of homes nationally.”

“The site is located in a sustainable location within walking distance of shops and services, making it easily identifiable as sustainable development.

“The demand for one-bedroom apartments in the borough has been acknowledged on several occasions by the Council’s Strategic Housing consultee.”

The public consultation on the plans is open until April 23; to comment, go to the Blackburn with Darwen Council website’s planning section.

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