BUILDING work to breathe new life into a Colne landmark is set to start in the summer.

Pendle Council's Colne and District committee was told Down Court Properties, owners of Shackleton Hall, was expected this month to submit a planning application to renovate the Grade-II listed building into shops and apartments. It is hoped building work could then start by late summer.

The announcement comes after the council and developers held talks to thrash out a deal to solve the long running saga surrounding the Church Street eyesore.

Councillor Tony Greaves said: "We met the owner, architect and agent, and what came out of that meeting was a clear commitment on their part.

"They showed us some plans what they want to do with the building. They want to keep the outside of the building as it is now and they are talking about 16 residential units and nine shops both of which will be beneficial to Colne town centre.

"They assured us they would put in a planning application by the end of the month. They hope to be on site with major refurbishment work by the late summer."

Numerous plans to breathe new life into the building have collapsed. Last year North West Corporate Estates decided to sell the hall for £590,000, just three months after buying the site for £540,000.

It blamed Pendle Council for serving a listed building repairs notice demanding work on the eyesore was carried out for the reason the company pulled out of a scheme to create shops and apartments.

In November the Altrincham-based Down Court said it could take up to three years to complete the £1.2million scheme after Pendle Council refused to put £250,000 towards the costs.

The authority threatened to re-instate the action on the developers but decided against it after the firm said it was pressing ahead with the redevelopment.

Coun Alan Davies said: "This really does seem to be the fastest way to solve the problem."