Plans to extend a restaurant and turn it into a bed and breakfast in a Ribble Valley village have been approved.

The proposal is for the partial demolition of the rear of the Breda Murphy restaurant in Station Road, Whalley, to allow for a three-storey rear extension and a change of use to a bed and breakfast/holiday let.

The extension and internal alterations will give eight en-suite bedrooms, including an accessible room; a kitchen, lounge, dining and bar area; and a disabled toilet area.

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Ribble Valley Borough Council approved the development subject to a number of conditions, including that the development must start within the next three years.

The council received a number of third-party responses from residents in the area, mostly expressing concern over the development.

One respondent said they did not object to the change of use for the ground and first floors, but said the second-floor extension was “not suitable for this limited site and totally out of character to the area.”

Another said: “The development is not suitable for the site or for Whalley. The eight bedrooms are still present but in a smaller area with minimal ‘public’ space.

“There appears to be no management facilities for safety and control for the sake of the residents and neighbours.

“We feel this is an over-development and should be refused.”

One of the respondents said they approved the development in principle.

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A design and access statement submitted to the council said: “The proposal is for partial demolition of the rear to allow for a new three-storey rear extension and a change of use from a restaurant into a bed and breakfast/holiday let.

“The proposal consists of the demolition of a timber clad, flat roof two-storey element to the rear; removal of extract ducting, external staircases, and a terraced area; the erection of a three-storey extension to the rear on the footprint of the demolished area; a first-floor extension over the retained area of the building; windows installed where external doors are removed; and internal alterations to the building.”

To view the plans in full and to leave a comment, visit the council’s planning website.