A TOWN centre car park that was set to be demolished to make way for a new Burnley shopping centre is set to stay for a further three years.

The Pioneer car park, in Curzon Street, has been used since 2003 but was on land earmarked for the £40million Oval shopping centre.

But that scheme was shelved earlier this year and now council chiefs want to the keep the 463-space short-stay car park until at least the end of December 2015.

In a report to councillors Burnley’s planning officer Cathy Ryder said: “Applications have previously been granted for the use of the car park from 2003 and renewed as necessary.

“The last permission being in 2011 for a period of 12 months, pending the redevelopment of the site for retail purposes in accordance with the Local Plan.

“This period is now due to expire and a further renewal application has been submitted to continue the use.

“The site is an allocated site for retail use but it has not been possible to bring forward a redevelopment scheme at the present time and it is proposed to continue the use of the site as a car park in the interim.

“It is quite common for redevelopment sites within town centres to be utilised for car parking pending development. Since the previous retail use ceased and the buildings demolished, the vacant site has been used for both shoppers and contract users.

“This car park is a preferred choice for many shoppers and to cater for the demand contractspaces have been displaced elsewhere to free up shoppers space. The majority of the car park is now for short stay use.

“Pending redevelopment of the site, when the car parking situation will be reviewed, the continuation of the use of the land for car parking is acceptable.

“It is appropriate to grant a further temporary permission on this basis.”