A SOCIAL enterprise cafe could open at a hospital mental health unit.

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust has lodged plans with Blackburn with Darwen Council proposing to build a single storey extension and internal remodelling at Pendleview inpatient mental health unit at Royal Blackburn hospital.

As well as the planned cafe, the plans include a new lobbied entrance.

If approved, the new café would create one full-time and four part-time jobs.

It is not yet known how much the development would cost but trust bosses say it will provide employment opportunities for people with mental health issues.

A spokesperson for LCFT said: “Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust is a health and wellbeing trust and it is vital that our service users, visitors and staff have access to facilities that are welcoming.

"We have been working in partnership with a third sector provider since opening the Harbour in Blackpool in 2015 and they run Sparkey’s café, providing not only food and refreshments but also volunteering and employment opportunities for people who have lived experience of mental health issues.

"We are hoping to replicate this in Pendleview for the people accessing our services in East Lancashire and will be looking for a third sector partner to support the running of the café. The work includes creating a new central entrance, reception and seating area as well as the café. We cannot be specific about the cost of this at this point until we have identified a contractor to carry out the work.”