Plans to turn vacant retail unit into hot food takeaway

Atif Mehmood submitted plans to Blackburn with Darwen Council last week seeking to change the use of a property in Mincing Lane from a vacant retail unit into a hot food takeaway, as well as installing an extraction flue to the rear.

The property had been held as a retail shop for several years however has not really operated since 2009.

The premises is currently vacant, and Mr Mehmood is now considering options for expansion for the current property into a hot food takeaway.

A planning statement reads: “The application address is sited as a mid-terraced retail shop within the heart of many other retail outlets and hot food takeaways.

“It is situated right behind the very busy and popular Darwen Street (which is known for its many hot food takeaways/restaurants in Blackburn).

The rear of 33 Mincing Lane (Image: BwD Council)

“It consists of a retail area on the ground floor and a vacant room on the ground floor to the rear including a WC outside in the garden area. Additionally, there are two vacant rooms on the first floor.

“Most of the site is made up of retail shops and hot food takeaways on the road which includes Taste of India, selling all Indian/Pakistani foods on the left side of the existing retail property, and a vacant retail shop on the right side of the property.

“The road also includes various other shops such as PC laptop sales store.

“Behind Mincing Lane includes restaurants and takeaways such as Kings Castle, Bellagio, and a Shakey’s takeaway.

“The proposal is to develop it into a hot food takeaway just like the business next door to the property.

“The property will include the facility of cooking hot food on the premises and will serve hot food to customers on and off the premises, with the installation of a high-powered extraction flue.”

If approved the opening hours would be 11am until 11pm seven days a week.

Anyone wishing to comment on the application can do so via Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning website.