The owner of a former hotel in Blackburn stated that he could tolerate the occasional stamping and chanting from the Shia Islamic Centre next door, so the building may be converted again into two spacious residences.

 Planning permission has been given to Suhel Miah to turn the Chimneys Guest House on Preston New Road, Wensley Fold, into two homes with four bedrooms each. The change of use has been accepted with three conditions by Blackburn and Darwen Council.

A report by planning officer Tom Wiggans said: "The application property was last used as a hotel but was originally two dwellings.

"The site comprises a large semi-detached property, in spacious grounds.

"It is seen as two storey from the front, but has habitable rooms in the roof space, and an additional basement level which is only seen from the rear.

"It fronts a busy classified road, with an existing driveway and a large hard surfaced parking area to the rear.

"This application seeks to convert a former hotel in to two separate (four bedroom) dwellings.

"During assessment, the applicant confirmed in writing they will be living in the property directly adjoining the Shia centre next door, and that they are fully aware of the noise from the Shia centre, and that the noise is manageable.

Suhel Miah has been granted planning permission to convert the Chimneys Guest House in Preston New Road, Wensley Fold, into two four-bedroomed houses.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved the change of use with three conditions.

A report by planning officer Tom Wiggans said: "The application property was last used as a hotel but was originally two dwellings.

"The site comprises a large semi-detached property, in spacious grounds.

"It is seen as two storey from the front, but has habitable rooms in the roof space, and an additional basement level which is only seen from the rear.

"It fronts a busy classified road, with an existing driveway and a large hard surfaced parking area to the rear.

"This application seeks to convert a former hotel in to two separate (four bedroom) dwellings.

"During assessment, the applicant confirmed in writing they will be living in the property directly adjoining the Shia centre next door, and that they are fully aware of the noise from the Shia centre, and that the noise is manageable.

"The applicant clarified they have been living in the property over the last eight years and will continue to do so going forward.

"The Shia Centre has been known to hold some rather noisy gatherings, involving stamping and chanting from the worshippers, and they have had complaints about this in the past when the property was a guest house and an abatement notice was at one point served on the centre due to the noise.

"The centre is quiet most of the time, yet rather loud for one weekday evening for an hour or so.

"In other words, noise from the centre is sporadic but can be loud when it occurs.

"The public protection team concluded that further mitigation is required to secure the residential amenity of the proposed residential dwellings in the form of standard double-glazing units with trickle ventilation.

"This is to protect future occupiers from the identified external noise.

"The proposed change of use would not involve any engineering operations or external alterations, and would have a neutral impact on the property and the wider street scene. It is therefore considered acceptable in visual design terms.

"As originally submitted, a new access would have been created onto Preston New Road.

"This was not considered likely to be acceptable on highway safety / parking grounds.

"The applicant therefore amended the plans to remove the proposed new access."