A PUB once at the centre of controversial plans to be turned into a Muslim community centre will now be converted into flats.

In 2017, a bid to convert the former Infirmary Hotel, at the junction of Bolton Road and Infirmary Street in Blackburn, into a community centre for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the town was defeated.

The building, which has lain empty for a number of years, would have been used for meetings, social gatherings and prayer, although the rest of the community would also be able to use the facility.

Concerns were raised in a planning report that a new community centre would make the traffic situation ‘intolerable’.

Borough planners refused permission because of concerns over parking and traffic.

Earlier plans to turn the building, latterly known as the Lockside Tavern, into a nursery was also refused because of road safety and parking concerns.

An appeal to the Planning Inspectorate attempting to overturn the council’s decision was dismissed.

Now new proposals to turn the building from a pub into five flats have been approved by council officers.

The scheme has been passed after developers revised the plans down from original proposals to have seven flats and one bedsit in the building.

The premises are currently vacant and have not been in use for about five years.

Principal planning officer Martin Kenny said: “The proposal offers potential to remove longstanding conflict between the public house use and neighbouring residences.

“The head of public protection offers no objection to the proposal, subject to a condition requiring a noise report to be submitted and agreed."

He added: “The amended proposal provides for five two-bed apartments.

“This warrants a parking requirement of 10 spaces when applying the council’s adopted standards.

“The amended scheme details the provision of eight spaces and separate motorcycle and bicycle storage area.

“Notwithstanding the under-provision of parking, the council’s highway officer has offered no objection to the scheme, citing the ability for on-street provision to meet the two-space shortfall.

“Furthermore, it is also acknowledged that the long-standing public house use derives a significantly higher parking requirement, alongside servicing needs.

“Thus the current proposal offers an opportunity to address the historic parking problems.”