A BLACKBURN wholesale butcher has been granted permission to use a former workshop in a business centre in the town for his trading.

Mohammed Bagas has been given a certificate of lawful development for the unit in the Brookhouse Business Centre in Whalley Range.

A planning officer's report granted approval says: "The application site comprises a small single storey commercial unit, which is one of a number of units within the established Brookhouse Business Centre.

"The unit is in the corner of the business park, and is accessed directly from the shared car park of Brookhouse Business centre

"The premises operate as a butchers (preparation, storage and distribution of meat - deliveries only, with no retail sales).

"The building comprises circa 1,100 square feet, with approximately half of the floor space being used as a prep area, and half as a cold store area, including two industrial-size fridges and a freezer.

"There are no sales to the public; they only butcher the meat, store it, and then deliver it to local businesses.

"The applicant states that this present use commenced on July 6 2022.

"Business Rates records show that the unit has been used for the storage of electrical equipment for the last 10 years for a retailer of electrical goods who are based on Blackburn market (assessed as a workshop).

"The Lawful Development Certificate should therefore be granted."