A serious loft fire in 2021 saw four fire crews respond to douse the flames at the empty site. According to the submitted plans, the other two units could be filled by a phone shop and a florist, with the main alterations to the ground floor consisting of three larger shopfront windows. A flood risk report submitted alongside the application states: “The proposed plans at 13 Duckworth Street satisfy national and local flood risk requirements. “The layout protects residential spaces on upper floors and uses resilient materials and backflow prevention on the commercial ground floor. "This ensures the development will not increase flood risk elsewhere in Darwen.”