Two empty Victorian shops, for decades part of a heritage-listed town centre pub, are set to be converted back to their original use.
The vacant retail units next to Accrington's Warner Arms have been bought by Daniel Holt's DGH Holdings Ltd.
Now he applied to Hyndburn Council for planning permission to convert them back into two shops with flats above them.
A supporting statement submitted with the application for the premises in Warner Street and Church Street says: "The building was originally two retail units in the Warner Street shopping area.
"In the 1990s these two shops were acquired and used as an extension to the Warner Arms public house, with the first floor used as an extension to their living accommodation.
"Several years ago this part of the pub was closed and the buildings have been vacant and up for sale since then.
"The buildings have been purchased by the applicant with a view to refurbishing them and bringing them back into use as shops at ground floor level, and changing the first-floor space into residential use.
"The site occupies a corner position at the junction of Warner Street and Church Street.
"The site is not thought to have had any previous buildings on it prior to the construction of this row of buildings.
"The building is thought to have been constructed during the mid-19th century. The facade is constructed from smooth sandstone.
"The upper floor windows appear to be the original sash windows and [the] Warner Street [property] has an original shop front featuring a curved glass panel and a traditional door recess. The window above this is a curved sash window which is an unusual feature.
"Church Street looks to have been remodelled at some stage (possibly in the 1990s) to create a group of three windows on each elevation with the entrance door located on the corner.
"The building is not listed but does adjoin a Listed Building - the Warner Arms - and is close to the Listed Buildings of St James Church and the Victorian Arcade.
"The work involved will be mainly internal fit-out work and no external alterations are proposed.
"The building makes a positive contribution to the Accrington Town Centre Conservation Area.
"The character and contribution to the conservation area will not be harmed by these proposals."
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