Office space in Brockhall Village could become Airbnb flat

An extension to The Conference Centre in Brockhall Village was approved in 2018 and work was completed a year later, which brought a two-storey office space.

Currently, the entire building houses a mixed use of office space, a fitness studio, a hairdressers, conference rooms, and a convenience shop.

READ MORE: Accrington Stanley stand changes refused at planning meeting

The building is located in Brockhall Village, a gated community in Old Langho, near Whalley, that was develop during the 1990s and boasts some of the most expensive house prices in Lancashire.

A planning statement submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council said: “The application is to change the use of one of the first-floor office units to a two-bedroom apartment which can be used as a short-term rental or a holiday let using various social network platforms such as Airbnb and Holiday.Com.

“The reason for the change of use proposal is the reduction in clients wanting to rent office accommodation when companies can now have much smaller office space and a workforce that can operate remotely from home, only having to meet employers occasionally or not at all.

“This alternative use makes use of floor space that is currently vacant and at present no enquiries for the space for any use in the commercial climate have been made.

“The proposed use of short-term rental or holiday let fits in with the tourist policies of the local authority and provides the building and its owner with income that would otherwise be lost.”

READ MORE: Accrington Burton's Chambers development approved at meeting

The apartment would have two bedrooms, one a double and one a single, providing space for up to three people.

It would also be allocated two parking spaces at the front of the building.

Consultation emails have been sent out to neighbouring properties which expire on February 6.

Anyone wishing to comment on the plans or read them in full should visit the council’s planning website.