PLANS to demolish a former health centre and change the use of a surgery could bring a new look to the centre of an East Lancashire town.

The 1970s health centre in Richmond Court, Market Street, Colne, formerly known as the Horsefield Medical Centre, may be replaced by a modern building housing commercial units and apartments.

The scheme, earmarked for the vacant two-storey building previously owned by the NHS, has been drawn up by Brierfield-based Barnfield Construction and submitted to Pendle planners.

A separate application has gone to change the use of Colne Corner Surgery, also in Richmond Court, to a funeral home.

The site of the commercial units and apartments application is next to the Red Lion pub, which is a listed building, and lies in a conservation area.

Documents submitted with the application confirm that the former health centre is now unused. It served as a drop-in clinic.

If the scheme is approved, it would be replaced by a three-storey building, with retail space on the ground floor and six residential units above.

A spokesman for Barnfield said: “The redevelopment proposes to create a mixed-use building that reflects the needs of the town and create commercial and residential space for start-up businesses and single residents and small families.

“The mixed-use development will provide a mix of retail and residential space that will contribute to the vibrancy of the town and respond to the need for quality one and two-bed properties.”

The documents say: “The development site is located within the Albert Road conservation area as designated in 1984.

“Immediately adjacent is the Grade II listed building, the Red Lion and opposite the site the Grade II listed Colne Market Cross.

“The conservation area comprises a varied mix of predominantly 18th century buildings noted for their historical and architectural interest.

“This continuity is only really broken by the proposed development site.

“The NHS building is of modern appearance and poor simplistic architectural detailing, which is at odds with the conservation area, in particular the neighbouring Grade II listed building.”

No documents have yet been published for the plan for a funeral home.