Talks held to get Oval shopping centre back on track

Plans for the Oval Shopping Centre in Burnley have been in doubt since the anchor tenant Debenhams pulled out of the scheme earlier this year.

But developers Henry Boot have been in discussions with a number of high quality stores with a view to putting in a planning applications if discussions are successful.

Developers had initially hoped to start building the Oval shopping and leisure centre on the site of the former Pioneer Co-Op in Curzon Street this summer.

Originally councillors wanted a department store to be at the heart of the centre and council bosses were reluctant to proceed without the store.

But now the developers are looking at having a mix of high quality retail outlets rather than one department store.

A meeting between developers Henry Boot and council officials took place on Thursday evening to discuss the future of the scheme.

Coun Martin Smith, who attended the meeting, said: "The developers have put some proposals and plans forward which we are considering at the moment and then hopefully this will lead to a full planning application.

"We can't sign a department store so we are going for the next best thing, high quality retail outlets.

"It involves a good mix of high quality rather than one store, which what they already have in Blackburn.

"This way we can get a better range of shops rather than just a department store."

Further meetings will take place over the next few months and an announcement should be made in March over the future proposals.

Farida Ahmed, Burnley Council's head of property consultancy, said: "Burnley Council is continuing to work closely with the developer Henry Boot to drive forward this exciting development for Burnley."

The council has granted planning permission for the complex which will also include 500 parking spaces, and bars and restaurants.

To make way for the development, buildings in Curzon Street earmarked for demolition will have to be served with a compulsory purchase order (CPO).