A PURPOSE-built Islamic funeral centre on a mosque car park will provide a much-needed boost to a suburban neighbourhood, councillors have been told.

It will also tidy up a scruffy corner of land, Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee heard.

Its meeting on Thursday night approved the Masjid-al-Momineen's application to construct the community hall and mortuary on vacant land used as an overflow car park on the opposite side of Ash Street.

The Kokni Muslim Welfare Society's scheme was granted planning permission with 21 conditions including a restriction on use between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays with no operations on any Sunday or Bank Holiday.

Borough growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood told the meeting: "This is much needed in the area.

"It will be an asset to the local community.

"The new centre can be used not just by this mosque but by others in the area and by other faiths as well.

"It will also help prevent the land being subject to anti-social behaviour."

Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward's Cllr Suleman Khonat: "I am really pleased with this scheme.

"It will really tidy up the area."

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith said: "It will certainly be an improvement."

A report to councillors by borough planning manager Gavin Prescott said: "The proposed building will be used in association and ownership with Masjid-al-Momineen Mosque.

"The development will also include car parking.

"The proposal, in redeveloping a redundant brownfield site for the purpose of a community use, represents a viable and sustainable form of development.

"It will deliver a number of social, economic and environmental benefits.

"The application site relates to a parcel of vacant, previously developed, land accessed from Ash Street to the south and bounded by Plane Street to the north and Beech Street to the east.

"It formerly comprised of terraced housing which was demolished in the 1980s.

"It currently comprises of partly-grassed areas and hard surface which appears to have been used temporarily as on overflow car park to support the adjacent mosque use.

"The intention is to create a facility that is purpose built with a dedicated Ghusl Khana, for washing and shrouding the body, in accordance with Islamic funeral practices.

"The building is to provide facilities for the immediate family of the deceased for the three days prior to burial.

"The community hall would support around 100 people.

"The building would not be used for the purposes of weddings or other similar functions."