An appeal has been lodged against the rejection of proposals to turn a decaying empty pub building into a shop and first-floor flat.

In May, council planners refused Umer Zubair's application for planning permission to convert The Swan public house in Bolton Road, Darwen, into a ground-floor convenience store with a three-bedroomed apartment for his use above it.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's refusal of the shop application followed objections from local residents about fears over anti-social behaviour, parking, and road safety.

Now Mr Zubair has appealed this decision to the government's planning inspectorate and asked it to overturn the council's refusal and grant his scheme planning permission.

The grounds for refusal given in the May decision notice were: "The proposed retail unit would not be located within or immediately adjacent to an existing group of local shops.

"It has not been adequately demonstrated that no preferable site is available or likely to be available within a reasonable timescale to accommodate the development, which would have the potential to negatively impact the viability and vitality of existing centres.

"The site has inadequate off-street servicing provisions for the proposed use, which would result in deliveries being conducted from the public highway network, and such an outcome would have the potential to prejudice road safety and the safe, efficient, and convenient movement of highway users."

A statement of appeal prepared by the Urban Future Planning Consultancy says: "The former Swan public house ceased trading in 2020 and has stood vacant ever since.

"Parts of the building have begun to fall into a state of disrepair. No interest has been shown in the re-use of the site as a public house.

"The appellant has considered a number of re-use options for the building but in terms of suitability and viability, considers a retail end-use as the most appropriate form of development for the ground floor.

"The scheme represents an acceptable development which promotes local consumer choice, provides a source of new employment and represents sustainable economic development, without resulting in adverse impacts to the character and appearance of the area, on amenity or on the local highway network.

"The scheme will not give rise to undue harm in terms of impact on amenity or on the functioning of the local highway network.

"There are many benefits to be accrued through permitting the proposed scheme, namely, securing the future of a long-standing vacant property in a sustainable location, visual improvements to the site and surroundings and additional revenue for the local council through additional council tax and business rates."