NEW life is set to be injected into the historic Accrington Conservative Club.
The club, which was once the largest in the country, was bought in November last year by Woodgreen Homes after falling into disrepair.
It plans to transform the deteriorating Grade II listed building into a complex which includes a glass atrium, offices, a conference centre, a restaurant, a rooftop cafe, two shops and a gym.
Burnley man Ifta Kharul Bhatti, who is behind the exciting project, said: “We are hoping to regenerate a very prominent building in a very prominent area.
“It’s an exciting area with much potential. Developers have attempted to come up with other schemes for the building but we feel we have come up with the right scheme.”
If the plan is approved it could coincide with the building of a new Tesco on Eagle Street – right opposite the Conservative Club.
Although plans have not yet been submitted to Hyndburn Council’s planning department, Mr Bhatti said the development will maintain much of the building's current exterior.
He said: “We are keeping the front of the building as it is but will demolish the rear of the building for the atrium. The idea is the only way of keeping what’s beautiful at the front and making good use of the back.”
The plans were drawn up by Nelson-based architect John Clancy and have been praised by the council’s Labour leader Graham Jones.
He said: “It’s a bold and ambitious project and I have worked really hard behind the scenes to see it put forward. I am absolutely delighted with the proposal.”
Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “Obviously it’s a building that we hope someone will come along and want to develop. It’s one of the biggest buildings in Accrington town centre and we would like to see an appropriate development.”
The club was built in 1891 at a cost of £8,000 to upstage the nearby Liberal Club, featuring an ornate Queen Anne facade and bay windows.
One of its main features was the Majestic Ballroom with a vaulted ceiling – much of which remains intact. In its heyday the ballroom could accommodate around 1,000 people.
Last summer the council used emergency legislation to carry out repair work and board the club up after the Observer revealed squatters had moved in.
