A £1.5MILLION superclub is to be built in Blackburn after councillors gave the owner of a controversial bar permission to extend his venue.

Scott Moon, who runs the Cubes and Chocolate bars, said the granting of planning permission was a massive step forward for Blackburn -- and pledged to end the noise nightmare suffered by nearby residents.

The club will be built alongside the existing Cubes and Chocolate bars in Duke Street, helping create what Oswaldtwistle man Mr Moon described as 'an entertainment village'.

He already runs a restaurant, called The Lounge, at the site and is hoping to open the new venue later this year.

Residents in Simmons Street and Alma Street complained about noise last summer, prompting councillors to give the owner six months to sort it out.

They revoked his public entertainment licence in December and the club has been shut since December 31. Mr Moon has now pledged that sound proofing included as part of the new building will end the problem when it opens.

Mr Moon told Blackburn with Darwen's planning committee: "I what to give put something into Blackburn which it doesn't already have.

"This club will attract people from across the region, which can only be good for Blackburn's nightime economy.

"I have been running venues in Blackburn for four and a half years and I think the time is right to build somewhere like this.

"I have the finance in place and it will cost £1.5million with a budget of £100,000 to be spent on promotion.

"This is something Blackburn's nightlife desperately needs."

Objections to the proposal were received from Blackburn College -- which claimed its nearby campus could become the target of vandals leaving the club -- and Blackburn Civic Society, which said the design of the new building was not in keeping with the area.

Mr Moon said: "I am disappointed by the objections. We will be installing CCTV to make sure there are no problems and the design, I feel, is fine."

One of the conditions for approving the application was that details of noise insulation will have to be approved by environmental health officers before any building work begins.

Councillors were told that licensing matters could not be used to decide a planning application, but Coun Mike Barratt said: "Try explaining that to the people who have had to suffer because of the existing venue."

However, Coun Paul Browne said: "This is good news for Blackburn. It is increasing the nightlife over a wider area. It is near to existing pubs but gives the town a bit more."

Today, Mr Moon said: "I am ecstatic that we can begin to build the new club. It is a massive boost for Blackburn."

Mr Moon will have to apply to the licensing committee for a public entertainment licence for the new club.