THE 'ruined shell' of a former town centre pub has been earmarked for a new shop and flats.

Developer Mazhar Iqbal wants to convert the premises once occupied by The Printers Arms in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

He has applied to Hyndburn Council for create a ground floor retail unit and five self-contained flats above in the early 19th Century building which has been empty for more than 10 years,

A previous proposal to turn the premises into 19 bed sits by Jeremy Nussbaum of Salford firm Sandilane Limited in 2020 came to nothing.

St Andrew's ward's Cllr Peter Britcliffe said: "Anything would be better than the current ruined shell of a building but there are concerns about more flats on Union Road.

"It's certainly better than the plan for 19 bedsits.

"I think it needs looking at very carefully."

A supporting statement for the application from the Urban Future Planning Consultancy Ltd says: "The former Printers Arms ceased trading over a decade ago and has stood vacant ever since. It has begun to fall into a state of disrepair.

"The sight of a boarded up public house is all too common and with approximately eight public houses closing everyday in England, this sight is likely to increase.

"The chances of it being revived as a pub are close to zero.

"The closure of the former public house followed trends seen up and down the country following the economic crisis of 2009. Since then, the UK has experienced a decade of pub closures.

"Consumers are now spending more of their disposable income on eating out, rather than ‘going for a pint’.

"The applicant has considered a number of re-use options for the building but in terms of suitability and viability, a mixed-use retail / residential scheme is the most appropriate form of development

"The public house was built in the early 19th century and has been a licensed premises since 1840 until it ceased operations a decade ago.

"Consent is sought for the change of use to a retail unit at ground floor with five self-contained flats above.

"There are many benefits to be accrued through permitting the proposed scheme, namely, securing the future of a long-standing vacant property in a sustainable location, additional homes in times of chronic undersupply nationally, visual improvements to the site and surroundings and additional revenue for the local council through additional council tax and business rates."