A proposal to turn a large former nursery building in Blackburn into a new mosque and madrassah has been turned down by planners.

The Muslim Welfare Institute wanted to convert the former Emerald Street Nursery in Emerald Street, Roe Lee, which was originally part of a local mill.

It also proposed a single-storey extension to house ablution and toilet facilities.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council has rejected the planning application for the changes.

The scheme generated six objections on grounds of parking, access to neighbouring businesses, implications for bus routes along Emerald Street, and adverse highway safety impacts.

A report recommending refusal by senior planner Christian Barton said: "The site comprises of a two-storey building, rear play area and off-street vehicle parking for around four vehicles.

"The nursery use appears to have vacated some time in 2022.

"Prior to that use the building was used as offices.

"This application involves changing the use of the building to form a place of worship and Islamic education centre or madrassah.

"A single-storey rear extension would be constructed to provide an ablution area and toilet facilities.

"Part of a prayer hall would also be provided within the space following the removal of an external wall.

"The three proposed madrassah classrooms would be operated separately to the prayer halls, and potentially at the same time.

"Should that happen then the number of individuals within the extended building as a whole would be significantly more than the anticipated numbers.

"Moreover, opening hours are proposed for the place of worship element from 04:30 to 23:00, seven days a week.

"The proposals would result in the loss of an employment premises that could potentially be used by smaller scale businesses.

"An insufficient level of information has submitted to justify the proposed alternate uses and the proposed mix of uses contravenes a number of planning policies.

"The proposals would involve the introduction of uses significantly more intensive than the former nursery.

"It has not been adequately demonstrated that the proposals would secure a satisfactory level of amenity with reference to noise pollution and nuisances and they would have the potential to lead to adverse impacts resulting from noise on the health and the quality of life of the immediate neighbours.

"The proposed rear extension would be built an insufficient distance away from main habitable room windows in the rear elevations of 94 and 96 Cornelian Street.

"The proposals would be provisioned with a significant shortfall in off-street vehicle parking and would cause an adverse level of conflict between road users which would in turn lead to an unacceptable impact on highway safety."