PLANS to split a carpet showroom into two to include a convenience store and turn first floor offices into a gym and pilates room have generated objections.

Holts of Cherry Tree currently use the whole premises in Preston Old Road for a Carpet and Flooring Centre with associated upstairs offices.

Now they have submitted a planning application to subdivide the ground floor into two retail uses and create a physiotherapy suite upstairs.

The original planning permission granted to the firm specified carpet and flooring sales only.

Three neighbours and Livesey Parish Council have objected to the new plan on grounds of lack of parking, alcohol sales and potential anti-social behaviour.

Blackburn with Darwen council officials have recommended that the borough planning committee approve the application subject to conditions.

They said the proposals should create an investment of £250,000 and 10 full-time and 14 part-time jobs.