A scheme to turn abandoned former youth centre into flats has been called off.
The plan would have seen the former Zacs Youth Bar on Market Street, Farnworth, vacant since April 2022, into four new flats while also creating a new shop front.
But having lodged their plans in November last year, the developers behind the scheme have now decided to withdraw their proposal.
A statement by planners Mojo said: “It’s clear through information obtained online that the building has been used as a youth club with food provisions called Zacs Youth Bar between at latest 2008 up until April 2022 when the charity was unable to continue operating.
“The building has since been left vacant.”
No other planning applications or changes of use had been registered for the building since 1997 when it was changed from a wine bar into a place of worship with a charity shop.
When they first put forward their plan for the flats and new shop front, the developers had hoped this would have helped with wider plans for commercial regeneration around Farnworth.
The statement said: “At ground floor, a single apartment is being created with an entrance from Ferret Street, and includes a private garden space to the rear where an existing kitchen extension to the building is being demolished.
“New glazing is proposed to the east elevation for the new ground floor apartment.
“The main residential entrance is located on Market Street separated off from the commercial unit which is being formed with a new shop front glazing system, and retains a fire escape door to Dial Court.”
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It added: “At first floor, the main residential entrance leads up to two apartments with the third being accessed from an existing external stair.
“All existing glazing within the building is being utilised to provide daylight and ventilation to the proposed apartments, with four new rooflights added at 1st floor to maximise daylight and ventilation to habitable rooms.”
This would have marked the first time the empty former youth centre had been used since its closure.
But on Thursday January 11 this year, the developers decided to withdraw their application.
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