Crawshawbooth motorbike showroom could become new cafe

Wing Lui of Burnley Road submitted plans with Rossendale Council to change to use of the former motorbike showroom at 801 Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth, to a ground floor café with retail above.

While used for many years as a showroom for the display and sale of motorbikes, the building has been vacant now for more than eight years.

The first floor of the building is also vacant but was last in retail use.

The building is of stone and slate construction with a shopfront that extends over the length of the front elevation and partly around the side onto Goodshaw Avenue.

The longstanding vacancy of the building has resulted in its appearance deteriorating and currently, particularly at the side and rear, the property is somewhat of an eyesore.

A statement submitted with the proposals reads: “The application proposes the change of use of the property from a motorcycle sales showroom with retail above to a café with retail above.

“Effectively therefore the first floor use remains as its extant use and the main issue for consideration is the ground floor use as a café.

“The proposed floor plan shows the layout of the café which will include tables, easy chairs, children’s play area and a service counter, with food preparation area, toilets and an ancillary offices.

“The café will operate every day of the week with maximum opening hours of 7.30am to 9pm, although the core of hours will be between 8am and 6pm.

“There are no other properties available within the centre and the proposals on offer in the application are designed to serve the local community, meeting the day to day needs of residents and meeting a key aim of planning policy in terms of reducing the need to travel, something which is supported in both local and national policy.”

If plans are approved, five car parking spaces will be made available.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals can do so via Rossendale Council’s planning website.