A PLAN to give Burnley town centre a £100,000 face lift is set to be drawn up.

Borough council bosses are set to agree for a team of experts to come up a 'masterplan' at a meeting next week.

The consultancy firm will be tasked with increasing leisure opportunities, promoting town centre living in older offices and create a parking plan.

Key sites that lend themselves to opportunities for redevelopment include Curzon Street, Place De Vitry, Manchester Road and the King Street Car Park.

Kate Ingram, head of regeneration and economic development at the council, said a new masterplan was needed as trends in retail and leisure had changed significantly in the last decade.

She said: "The updated masterplan will be forward looking and will under pin the council’s future vision for the town centre.

"It is intended to facilitate the redevelopment and growth of the town centre censuring its future as a vibrant and thriving retail, leisure and business centre supporting the borough’s overall growth ambitions."

If approved the council will contribute £60,000 towards the plan, with £20,000 coming from the One Public Estate programme and £20,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Some £30,000 would also be spent from reserves on a development partner to help redevelop the former Pioneer Co-op site.

Around £20,000 is being sought from Lancashire County Council.

Miss Ingram said: "Burnley town centre has some strong assets in its fine Victorian architecture and a town centre retail offer which has fared relatively well in difficult circumstances.

"However Burnley has not benefitted from the levels of investment that other similar sized towns and cities in the region have seen.

"A key part of the town centre experience is the night time offer.

"The traditional drinking industry, which was previously very strong in Burnley town centre, has struggled in the wake of extended opening hours, cheap supermarket alcohol and increased health awareness.

"A lack of a branded central town centre leisure offer including cinema and associated food and drink establishments means there is a clear gap in the evening economy."

The council expects the plan to be completed within six months of the plans getting the go-ahead.

The council will discuss the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, April 12, at the town hall in Manchester Road at 6.30pm.