A FORMER high street chocolate shop could be transformed into a bookies if planning permission is granted.

A change of use application to turn the Chocolate Box on King Street, Clitheroe, into a betting shop has been submitted to the Ribble Valley Borough Council.

The retail premises last operated in 2018 and has been vacant ever since.

According to documents on the authority’s planning portal, the betting shop would be owned and operated by BoyleSport Limited, a company that own a string of bookies across the UK and Ireland.

Planning documents read: “The application seeks planning permission for the change of use of the ground floor of 3a King Street from Use Class E (Commercial, Business and Services Use) to Sui Generis to enable the premises to be used as a licensed betting office.”

Permission is also sought to make several external alterations to the building, including the placement of new signs and painting of the shop front.

The document continues: “The application site is currently vacant and has remained so since 2018 as a result of the demolition and rebuilding works. During this time the unit has not contributed to the vitality and viability of the town centre.

“As the site is not located in the Principal Shopping Area there is no presumption for the site to remain in shopping or café/restaurant use and therefore it is our contention that other town centre uses are acceptable.

"Betting offices are generally busy operations, and this, alongside the glazed shopfront will assist

in providing an active frontage onto King Street, ensuring that there are eyes on the street. The

glazed shopfront will allow views into and out of the unit during the day and into the evening in

accordance with the proposed opening times."