The Planning and Highways Committee of Blackburn with Darwen Council were scheduled to meet on 21 August 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including the erection of industrial units, demolition of a mill building, and the installation of a shipping container for use as a cafe. Councillors were also scheduled to consider the extinguishment of a public footpath and an enforcement update.

Extinguishment of Public Footpath 94A(part) Blackburn

The committee was scheduled to consider a request to approve a public path extinguishment order for Public Footpath 94A(part) Blackburn, under Section 118 of the Highways Act 1980. The report pack stated that the Council's Growth & Development team, who are promoting the M65 junction improvement scheme, had applied to have the public footpath stopped up in the interests of public safety.

The report pack noted that Public Footpath 94A Blackburn historically ran from Haslingden Road in an easterly direction across fields. The path was dissected in the late 1990s by a link road (A6077), and an extra lane was added in the outbound direction around 2015, meaning that walkers using the path had to cross four lanes of live traffic. The report pack stated that a pedestrian refuge could not be provided due to site constraints.

The report pack stated that walkers can gain access to the point where FP94A leaves the link road heading westward towards Walker Road by using a route along adopted highway and using the controlled crossing points at the Blackamoor Road and Haslingden Road junction. The report pack stated that the western adopted verge between the junction and FP94A Blackburn would be converted to a surfaced footway to assist walkers using this route.

The report pack stated that non-statutory consultations had been undertaken with The Ramblers and Peak & Northern Footpath Society, and that both groups accepted that extinguishment was justified in this particular case.

Planning Applications for Determination

The committee was scheduled to discuss the following planning applications:

• Land at Garden Street, Blackburn (Planning Application 10/24/0239) Mr Russell Heaton requested permission for the erection of industrial unit(s) (Use Class B2¹) with storage yards (Use Class B8²) and erection of new 2.4m high fencing lining Garden Street.

  The report pack stated that the key issues to be addressed were the principle of development, design and visual amenity, safeguarding amenity, highways and parking, ecological assessments and Biodiversity Net Gain³, flood risk and drainage assessments, land contamination, coal mining and sustainability.

  The report pack stated that the site is located within the settlement of Blackburn and as part of an Employment Commitment Site (E208: Former Newman's Shoes Factory). The report pack noted that a similar scheme was approved as part of application 10/18/0282.

• Beehive Mill, Moor Lane, Darwen (Planning Application 10/24/1001) Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council requested permission for the demolition of a mill building, change of use to form temporary contractor's compound in association with the adjacent development site, laying of hardstanding and erection of fencing/gates fronting Moor Lane.

  The report pack stated that the key issues to be addressed were design and visual amenity, heritage assets, safeguarding amenity and public safety, highways and parking, ecological assessments and Biodiversity Net Gain, archaeology and land contamination.

  The report pack stated that the site is regarded as a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA), owing to its status as a late and small-scale example of a cotton mill. The BwD Heritage Advisor had reviewed the merits of the proposals, and no objections were raised.

• Edgworth Cricket Club, Bolton Road, Turton, Bolton (Planning Application 10/24/1020) Mr David Enright requested permission for the demolition of a catering hut, storage building and open air practice nets enclosure; and erection of a catering hut; practice nets with scoreboard; viewing platform; bottle / storage building; pergola; alterations to existing clubhouse building including entrance colonnade and external cladding; and alterations to clubhouse access ramps.

  The report pack stated that the application had been returned to the committee to allow consideration of minor amendments to the provisionally approved scheme. These included a reduction in the size of the viewing platform, a redesign of the indoor practice nets building, and alterations to the existing clubhouse building.

  The report pack also included a letter of objection from James Geddes of Barlow Court, Turton, who requested that the Cricket Club be required to stop access to the areas behind the MUGA⁴ and the practice nets, except for maintenance, in order to prevent anti-social behaviour.

• 63 Pringle Street, Blackburn (Planning Application 10/25/0310) Ms Shabnam Rehman requested permission for the subdivision of an existing dwelling (use class C3[^6]) to 2no. two bedroom flats and 2no. one bedroom flats.

  The report pack stated that the Council's highways team had appraised the application and advised that when applying the council's parking standards to the resubmitted proposals the element of parking for the flats therefore remains unchanged, i.e. 6 parking spaces and 6 secure cycle spaces. This represents an increased requirement of 3 extra parking spaces overall, all of which would rely on-street parking.

• 14 D Pinewood, Livesey, Blackburn (Planning Application 10/25/0377) Mr Gary Doyle requested permission for a change of use from retail shop to a micropub with external condensing units and associated internal works.

  The report pack stated that objections had been received citing concerns as to the potential for noise disturbance and general antisocial behaviour arising from the proposal. The Council's Public Protection consultee also raised concerns.

  The report pack referenced a Noise Impact Assessment (Peak Acoustics, June 2025) and a Sound Insulation Test Report (KP Acoustics, July 2025).

• BVSMNT venue (former Darwen Windows Ltd), Borough Road Darwen (Planning Application 10/25/0401) Grant Mizon requested a Material Amendment for: Removal of Condition No. 3 notification of operational use commencing ; Variation of Condition No.5 opening hours ; and variation of Condition No. 6 noise limitation , pursuant to planning permission 10/23/0896 Proposed change of use of lower ground floor from vacant mill to a Live Music Venue (Sui Generis use) and removal of a section of link building.

  The report pack stated that since approval of the original application, the applicant had worked closely with the case officer and Public Protection colleagues to secure compliance of the conditions. The report pack also stated that over the course of the 12-month period, one complaint was received by the Council's Public Protection team citing a low frequency bass beat, but that the complaint was investigated and it was mutually agreed that no noise nuisance was audible.

• 332 - 334 Whalley Range, Blackburn (Planning Application 10/25/0506) Mr U Hussain requested permission for a change of Use of basement to storage and installation of rear flue.

  The report pack stated that the application site is a corner property at the junction of Whalley Range and Wesley Street. The report pack also stated that the property is currently occupied at ground floor by a dentist surgery, with the upper and lower basement having an extant residential approval. It is proposed that the ground floor is to be used as a café use under Use Class E(b), which does not require change of use.

  The report pack stated that the agent had been advised to omit the ground floor aspect of the proposal from the application, and amend the application for change of use of basement only and installation of rear flue solely.

• Former Fleece Inn, 24-26 Penny Street, Blackburn (Planning Application 10/25/0766) Chaaye Paani requested permission for the installation of a prefabricated shipping container with external cladding for a temporary five year period for use as a cafe (Class Use Eb) with associated works. Retrospective.

  The report pack stated that the application is submitted following a lease agreement between the Council and the applicant for a five-year period, and that the applicant previously occupied a Council owned site adjacent to Brown Street Car Park and Ainsworth Street.

Enforcement Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a report providing an overview of planning enforcement matters. The report pack stated that the list of cases within the report were in the main list of cases where formal enforcement action was being take and was not a list of every case, complaint of enquiry dealt with.