A HISTORIC town centre building once home to a flagship pub is to become nine flats for young professionals.

The top three floors of the former Thwaites House on the corner of Railway Road and Church Street, Blackburn, can now be converted into apartments.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved a scaled-down version of a planning application for 14 flats submitted in November.

After discussions between the applicant Nazia Shah of the Urban Future Planning Consultancy Ltd the number of apartments in the proposal was reduced from 14 to nine.

Planning permission has been granted for two three bedroom and seven two bedroom self-contained flats.

This was despite an objection because a music studio occupying part of the building and the proposal would be forced to close or relocate.

The Victorian building - once Thwaites Brewery's The White Bull Hotel - is the latest of several to turn older buildings in Blackburn town centre into residential apartments.

A report by planning officer Martin Kenny recommending approval with five conditions said: "The application site relates to the first, second and third floors of Thwaites House, Railway Road, in the Cathedral Conservation Area.

"At the time of application the floors are predominantly vacant, though at the time of the site visit a music studio occupied a number of rooms.

"The applicant’s submission indicates that the building has been most recently used for offices.

"The ground floor of the building is occupied by retail shops and a betting shop.

"The floor plans show each of the flats will be self-contained with its own lounge, kitchen/dining, bathroom and bedroom areas.

"No external alterations are proposed to the building’s façade.

’The proposed development would create additional residential units within Blackburn town centre and would support the re-use of a vacant building and help contribute to a vibrant town centre.

"Whilst the scheme is located within a primary shopping area, the proposal relates to non-ground floor levels and would not be considered to weaken the availability of premises in the town.

"The proposal does not provide for any dedicated external amenity space to meet the recreational/amenity needs of future occupants.

"Given that the proposal relates to a conversion of upper floors within a town centre location this is considered to be generally unachievable.

"Furthermore the town centre location provides access to green open spaces, as well as leisure opportunities such as the public leisure centre and gyms."