A TWO-STOREY brick and metal cladding convenience store near a motorway junction is now set to be built.

The shop on vacant land of Riversway Drive, Lower Darwen, already had secured outline planning permission at the second attempt after the number of parking spaces was increased.

Now Liverpool-based developer Mo Memon has secured approval for details of the new store on land is near the M65 Junction 4 for Darwen and the Premier Inn from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

It will have 460 square metres of floor space and a new entry road.

There will be 31 parking spaces with 15 in a basement. Two will be for disabled customers.

A report by planning officer martin Kenny recommended approval despite and objection on the grounds of loss of green space, adverse impact on ecology and the anticipated impact upon existing retail businesses in the locality.

It said: "The proposal relates to a parcel of undeveloped land to the east of Riversway Drive.

"The site and immediate surrounding area allocated as a primary employment area.

"The site is bounded to the east by the River Darwen. A range of commercial uses exist in close proximity including a warehouse, hotel and restaurant.

"Outline consent granted approval on the site for a convenience store.

"This application seeks to address the outstanding reserved matters following the 2018 approval; appearance, scale and landscaping.

"The principle of the use of the site for retail purposes was established through the outline consent.

"It fixed the location of the new building as being massed towards the junction of Riversway Drive and the un-named side road.

"The approved layout also identified the provision of basement level parking.

"This reserved matters proposal retains those features and provides for a two-storey building.

"The new building is rectangular in form, of flat roof construction incorporating a projecting canopy detail to the front, Riversway Drive, façade.

"Display windows are provided to the west and north elevations. The new building will be constructed with brick to the basement level and metal cladding to the upper walling.

"The immediate setting of the site is of mixed character, predominantly formed by commercial premises including large-format warehouse clad in grey metal cladding with feature brickwork detailing and a restaurant/hotel constructed in a mix of render and brick.

"It is considered the new building will assimilate successfully within this setting."