A BUTCHERS' shop which closed this year after more than a century could be turned into a restaurant.

Prior approval to change the use of Fairclough’s Master Butcher in Blackburn Road has been granted by the town hall.

Paul Fairclough sold the premises in Egerton which his grandfather moved to at the start of the 21st century having operated from a store in Bromley Cross since 1880.

The new owner notified the council of his intentions to convert the property to a restaurant in August.

Bromley Cross councillors said they would oppose the proposals due to concerns over parking, noise and smells.

But they told residents that the council may not be able to stop the move because the change of use is considered “permitted development”.

A change in planning law from May 2013 means a shop is allowed to change into a restaurant for two years without having to tell the local authority about the plans.

The council could only stop the change on grounds relating to highways, opening hours, noise or the extraction system.