A FORMER hot food takeaway in Darwen is to be turned into a family home.

Jeremy Hanshaw of Emsworth in Hampshire wants to turn the vacant premises into a single residential house.

Blackburn with Darwen Council planners have approved his application to make the former takeaway on the A666 Bolton Road into a house.

The decision has delighted Whitehall ward councillor Karimeh Foster.

She said: “ I am over the moon.

“We have too many takeaways in Darwen and not enough affordable housing.

“I am pleased to see this empty one being turned back into a family home.

“It is good news for neighbours because it has been vacant for a while.

“There are already plenty of cafes and takeaways in the area causing parking and litter problems.”

The change of involves removing the existing shop front and timber framed windows replacing them with a woodgrain upvc door and double glazed windows.

The surrounding walls will be finished in stone.