PLANS have been unveiled for a £32million extension to Accrington's Arndale Shopping Centre.

The development would create a large supermarket and new car park, creating 450 jobs.

The centre’s owners have revealed they are having ‘pre planning application’ discussions with Hyndburn Borough Council.

Plans for the supermarket, which would have an entrance on land between Eastgate and Broadway, involve a choice between two potential design schemes.

One option being considered is a 95,000 square foot store which will be offered to Tesco as an alternative to the Eagle Street store the firm currently has planning permission for.

However the Arndale is also in negotiations with Morrisons regarding a 70,000 square foot store plan which would also include four extra retail units at the shopping centre.

The proposals would also see a new 400 space upper and lower level car park, creating a total of 950 spaces at the Arndale. The new car park would be linked by a bridge into the existing multi-storey car park with access on Eastgate close to the viaduct roundabout.

The Arndale’s owners said that Morrisons had shown a keen interest in the supermarket plan so far and that they believed Tesco was also interested.

UK Investment Director Darren Hutchinson, acting for PR Arndale Ltd, feels the plan would encourage more people to shop locally and that the central position of the supermarket would encourage shoppers to use other local traders.

He said: “This development provides a fantastic opportunity to regenerate Accrington town centre, elevating Accrington’s position locally and providing a platform to enable it to compete with neighbouring towns.

“It will encourage more footfall in the town centre by bringing people here rather than to Blackburn or Burnley and that will have a knock on effect on people with using local traders, as the new supermarket will be central to the town centre.”

Tesco’s £32million bid to site a supermarket at Eagle Street was approved in June 2008.

A few months later it was revealed the Government Office North West had decided not to "call in" the plan for an independent review and that Tesco were free to move forward with the project.