A FUNERAL directors which sold buildings and land for more than £500,000 to the council is looking to open a new site in Blackburn.

The council bought Cashmere Cottages, Furthergate, Blackburn, and surrounding land including a pub, from Rashid Iqbal for it to be knocked down to make way for a bus lane.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has now received a planning application from Mr Iqbal to open new premises in St Peter Street in a bid to centralise the business.

Since selling the building in Furthergate he has run Iqbal Funeral and Memorial Services from premises in Accrington Road, Blackburn, but its two hearses are parked around town, away from the current site, due to its location.

Mr Iqbal said that his wife would be running the new site.

He said: “This is something that my wife is doing. It is because people want to use us.”

The planning application has been submitted to the council’s planning committee to change the use from a pharmaceutical chemical workshop, which is owned by Mr Iqbal, to a funeral directors.

Mr Iqbal’s agent, Khalid Khan and Associates, Whalley Range, Blackburn, said: “In order to bring the services generally provided by the funeral director or undertaker, and the retail outlet for stone heads, under one roof my clients are looking to change the use of the building.

“They are looking to extensively refurbish, part demolish a covered roof to the rear and provide premises with a new shop front with shutters.”

Adam Scott, strategic director, regeneration and environment for the council, said: “As part of the Pennine Reach bus lane bid it was important to buy the Furthergate land which has now been given government approval.”