PADIHAM is set to be transformed after almost £50,000 of funding was secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Burnley Council's Padiham Townscape Heritage Initiative has passed the first round of funding for its ‘Crafting the Future’ project.

The council submitted a bid last year to transform the town centre conservation area, securing the future of Victorian buildings, which includes 40 buildings along Burnley Road which are predominantly in retail use.

After securing the grant of £48,200 the council is now set to submit a bid for the full £1.45m which would involve work being completed over five years.

Among the work to be carried out is restoring buildings, removing road signs, improving pavements and introducing a new 20mph zone.

It comes after Padiham was hit by serious flooding after Christmas and Burnley and Bacup receiving similar amounts of funding for regeneration projects.

The Gawthorpe Textile Collection and the Padiham Archive will also hold a series of events and training days.

Cllr John Harbour, Burnley Council deputy leader, said: “The great news from the HLF that we have been awarded a first round pass for Padiham’s ‘Crafting the Future’ project couldn’t have come at a better time, after the recent floods which caused significant disruption in Padiham Town Centre.

“The town has bounced back from the floods with great passion and resilience and it will be a great injection of confidence for the future for them that we have reached this positive stage towards securing substantial funding for the transformation and conservation works to the historic town centre buildings.

“Padiham has a lovely market town feel with some stunning architecture.

"There are some great specialist shops in Padiham and funding which will bring the buildings and heritage back into full economic use will greatly enhance the town centre, build on the civic pride in the area, and bring many new visitors and shoppers to the town in the future.

"It’s a very positive step towards transforming Padiham’s future."

Over the next 12 months the council has said that it will progress plans to apply for the full grant and submit to the second round for the full grant.

The second submission has to be sent by the February 28, 2017.

Burnley MP Julie Cooper said: "I'm delighted that the council has been given this money and it has happened at the right time.

"Padiham has been through a lot with all the flooding recently and this is a real boost for the area."