PLANS to turn one of Accrington's oldest buildings into a restaurant, offices and apartments were approved last night.

North West developers Axicon Ltd applied to Hyndburn Council for permission to develop the former Conservative Club, Canon Street, which is famous for its ballroom.

The work will see the building brought back to life, with refurbishments made to the historic facade, and improvements to the neglected rear.

And councillors on the planning committee, which met to discuss the plans, praised the scheme for helping to regenerate Accrington, but questioned where cars would park at the building.

Coun Jim Dickinson said: "It's a magnificent building of its type. In it's days it was on of the finest and largest in the country.

"A multi-purpose use is a great way to keep some of our fine buildings in Accrington from a particular era. If many of these go down nobody will build in that style or quality again."

No objections were received by the council from local residents or organisations, but it was revealed at the meeting that some were worried about parking issues in the area.

The committee suggested that the firm behind the plans could work with other developers in the area to share parking.

Councillor Edith Dunston said: "I welcome this but I am very very concerned about parking facilities. It's horrendous there now."

The plans will see the building's basement used as a restaurant, the ground floor as offices, and the upper floors - still in their original condition as a ballroom - will be converted into flats.

The developers hope to keep much of the former Majestic Ballroom's features, including large windows and ornate ceiling, and build them into the flats.

The rear of the building will be improved, with shutters being removed and window's re-opened.