PLANS have been lodged to convert a former Conservative Club into a sweets workshop producing ‘artisanal English confectionery’.

The proposals for the ground floor of the former Salisbury Conservative Club, in Badger Street, claim up to 10 full-time jobs will be created after a change of use from social club to sweets manufacturing.

Proposals lodged with Bury Council this week say the applicant, Asim Farooq, would like to "make this property into our workshop, cottage industry manufacturing unit".

A supporting planning statement adds: “We propose to use this building for the production of classic artisan English confectionery used to retail in our own shops around Lancashire including Bury Market and supply to distributors locally.

“Most of the confectionery is handmade using traditional time honoured methods going back centuries.

“The confections are cooked in copper pans on open fires. There is also some light machinery used.

“Another positive aspect to this proposed development is we intend to create approximately ten full time employment opportunities for the local community.

“Our hours of operation would be from 8am-6pm and as such we would have next to no impact on the area in-terms of our operations as many of the takeaways and food outlets nearby.

“There will be next to no changes to the actual building but the whole site would be cleaned up.

“The application site is vacant and situated in a well-established area,.

“The proposals will result in numerous benefits which are not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by any adverse impacts. ”

The vacant club, around 150 metres from Bury town centre, was once a popular venue and function room but it closed ahead of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The application to Bury Council will be considered in the next few weeks.