Plans have been approved to turn the running of Churchfield House in Great Harwood over to the community.

The property, which has been under the stewardship of Churchfield House Ltd for over a year, and the Hyndburn Cabinet has now recommended it be given to them on a 25-year lease.

The Observer reported last year how more than 150 people had thrown their support behind the lease bid and previously met at the 19th century building to discuss the application to the Charities Commission.

Clare Cleary, Cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said the building had previously been under-used.

She said: “A business plan has been prepared and shows income generated through the community and letting offices on the first floor. This will allow the building to become more sustainable.”

Opposition leader Tony Dobson said he was in favour of the transfer of Churchfield House.

He said: “We’ve seen some examples of where it has worked well. Can we stand behind these organisations to help with advice? I would ask the controlling group to be patient.”

Labour leader Miles Parkinson said turning over community buildings was a way of giving them a new lease of life.

He said: “Community groups and charitable organisations have come forward and taken the ownership.

“We have a responsibility to the rest of the community to use public buildings in the best possible way.

“The last thing I want is to have a portfolio full of buildings that we don’t have the money to run and then have to close.”

Coun Dobson said some groups had approached him with concerns that if they didn’t take over the running of the building they would no longer be able to use it.

Coun Parkinson said: “The most important people in the borough are the volunteers.”

Speaking after the meeting, Lynn Wilson, Civic Society chairman, said the lease approval is ‘really good news’.

She said: “Churchfield House has really improved and come on leaps and bounds.

“We are in the process of applying for a licence to have weddings and we already have our first one booked for next spring.

“We have some fantastic volunteers here that have done up all the front of the house with hanging baskets and the gardens are completely transformed.

“It’s another hurdle passed and we now have to wait for the Charities Commission to give their consent as there are a lot of things we can’t do until then.

“We are really pleased with the reaction of the public and councillors to what we are doing.”