A FORMER village pub will be turned into six self-contained flats after borough planners gave the green light.

Proposals to transform the old Belmont Bull pub in High Street, Belmont, into flats were  determined by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee.

The pub closed in April 2018 and has remained shut since then.

Borough planning officer Nick Blackledge had recommended members back the application and grant permission for the development.

And the committee decided to go along with Mr Blackledge's recommendation.

Cllr Jim Casey said: "It's sad to see another pub go under.

"My ward has got two empty pubs which suffer from anti-social behaviour and vandalism and it has a real effect on the community.

"If there were no other options then we have at least got to try and bring these buildings back into use."

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith added: "If people really wanted to save it as a pub, they really should have put in an asset of community value application."

The application site currently consists of a former public house at the ground floor together with a small single storey extension at the rear and which also incorporates a cellar together with a five-bedroom landlord’s flat at the first floor and storage rooms in the roof space.

It is proposed to demolish the rear extension and replace and enlarge it.

It is also proposed to create a flat in the roof space.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application reads: “It appears the competition from the Black Dog pub which had an extensive refurbishment, the Wilton Arms and the San Marino restaurant all to the south of the village were simply too much competition in the local area.

“Far from being a necessary community facility well used by the local villagers, it was a failing business with little support from the surrounding community.”