PLANS have been submitted to convert a former pub in the centre of Accrington into a luxury flat.

Shakeel Ahmad wants to turn the former Bridge Inn pub into a ground-floor flat, which would include three bedrooms, a lounge, two porches, a kitchen and bathroom. In plans submitted to Hyndburn Borough Council, the previous drinking area would be turned into a large lounge.

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The ground floor of the 231 sq m site in Church Street would see the new life breathed into the derelict pub, which has stood empty for three years.

Architect Syed Helal Uddin, of Shuas, Baxenden, has drawn up the plans on behalf of Mr Ahmad.

The 47-year-old architect said: “An application was submitted for the ground-floor flat so we are very keen for the permission to be granted.

"Hopefully the building can be brought back to normal so that there is some life there. It is far better for there to be people living there than for it to remain empty.

“We need to bring life back into the town centre as a whole but this is a good thing for the community."

If successful, the work will enable a family to move into the property, alongside a second family who live in a flat in the upstairs of the property.

Malgorzata Cichorek — who co-owns the newly opened Retro bar across the road from the building — said: “I am pleased to hear there are plans for the building. That is fantastic news for us."

The existing ground floor has a cloakroom, drinking area, beer garden, kitchen and men's and women's toilets. The kitchen would remain in the same location at the rear of the property, and the women's toilet would be converted into a bathroom.

Proposals outline that the walls would be made from natural stone and the roof alterations would be grey slate to remain in keeping with the existing building.

Previous timber single-glazed windows would be replaced by UPVC double-glazed windows.

Cllr Tony Dobson (Barnfield) said: “The benefit will be that the boards come off the windows and the place is starting to look as it should do."

Cllr Mohammad Ayub (Central Accrington) said: “I welcome this application. It will see an unused building brought back to use.”