Plans to turn Burnley pub into cafe given green light

The Dugdale Arms on Dugdale Road closed in February and has been marketed for sale by Thwaites since March. Plans submitted to Burnley Council in October propose a change of use from pub to a mix of café on the ground and accommodation for the café manager on the first floor.

Offices for a plumbing and heating business on the premises have now been given the green light, with the proposed hours of operation for the café are from 8am to 5pm seven days a week and five members of staff will be employed.

“As there are no physical alterations to the building, the impact upon the street scene will remain the same," Case officer Paula Fitzgerald. “There is the potential for greater activity especially those travelling by car to the site but there is adequate parking on site.

“When the public house was in use it would have had people coming and going later into the evening. The café and office use will be conditioned to open from 8am to 6pm," Paula added. “Lancashire County Council acting as the local highway authority does not raise an objection regarding the proposed development and are of the opinion that the proposed development will not have a significant impact on highway safety, capacity, or amenity in the immediate vicinity of the site.

“The existing public house consists of a large car park which is to be retained for the associated parking provision as part of the proposal. “The existing car park consist of 40 parking spaces as stated within the submitted application form, although 15 of the parking spaces are stated to be reserved for staff parking as illustrated within the submitted plans.”

LCC highways officer Robert Gregg added: “Whilst the existing car park is to serve the whole property, the car park shall be provided to accommodate the use of staff, customers and residents and therefore the 15 parking spaces titled staff parking shall not be reserved solely for staff members.

“The whole car park shall be utilised to serve the overall parking provision.”