A CONSERVATION area could be expanded to protect historic buildings from demolition.

Hyndburn Council’s cabinet will decide whether to approve plans to vary the Christ Church Conservation Area in Accrington to include the historic Abbey Grange buildings so they can’t be knocked down without the need for planning permission.

Council conservation officer, David Morris, said the row of the old Red Lion pub, its stables and barn and the adjacent row of cottages were some of the first buildings in Accrington, and were originally surrounded by fields.

He added: "Most other buildings of this date are long demolished. The survival of the row would allow Accrington people and visitors to see the very first buildings of the town.

"Their uniqueness puts them among the most important local heritage buildings in the town centre,.

"Extending the Conservation Area is the first part of bringing about their improvement and having a discussion with the owner about how they can be returned into use, rather than just demolished, in a manner that reflects their importance."

Because the buildings currently fall outside the conservation area, they could be knocked down without the need for planning permission.

And the proposal to extend the conservation area comes after developers proposed to knock down Nos. 1-11 Black Abbey Street and redevelop the site for housing, alongside the conversion of the adjacent Grade II listed 104 Abbey Street to residential.

But council chiefs say the Abbey Grange area is of fundamental importance to the history of Accrington.

They claim it represents the earliest settlement in the town and the foundation of its historic narrative, and that the

area contains a series of Georgian buildings of great interest which have fascinated Accrington people for generations.

The buildings form part of the official Acorn Visitor Heritage Trail and are part of the proposed extensions to the Christ Church Conservation area.

In his report, Mr Prideaux added: "As this is an urgent matter, the proposed variation of the conservation area boundary is the minimum necessary to control their demolition and thus retain the heritage buildings for reuse and enhancement.

"Recently, a certificate of lawfulness application was submitted by the owners to establish whether 1 - 11 Black Abbey Street and 1 Jacob Street could be demolished without planning permission.

"The determination was that they could be demolished following a prior approval notice. However, including the buildings into the Christ Church Conservation Area would change this situation and planning permission would then be required for their demolition.

"There is currently a second certificate of lawfulness application submitted to establish whether the buildings can be demolished without listed building consent and this is presently not determined.

"The former Red Lion Public House on Abbey Street is listed grade II and the question is whether any of the buildings on Black Abbey Street are listed by virtue of being in the curtilage of the listed building.

"The application argues than none are listed and that demolition can proceed."