PLANS to transfer ownership of Great Harwood’s town hall building in Towngate to enable a £500,000 refurbishment have been rubber-stamped.

The building, in a semi-derelict state, is owned by Hyndburn Council but is to be transferred to Globe Enterprises Ltd, which the council has a third share in.

The town hall, built in 1900, has not been used by the people of Great Harwood since 1974 when the Great Harwood Urban District Council was disbanded.

The creation of a business hub in the listed building, which is empty, will mean many of its internal features, such as the curving wrought iron staircase, offset by a huge stained glass window, could be on show for the first time in more than 30 years.

The decision had been ‘called in’ by the council’s scrutiny panel before being approved.

The council’s deputy leader, Coun Peter Clarke, said: “It is fantastic news and is just in time to save the many gems hidden inside this building.

"If it had gone unused any longer, it would have fallen into serious disrepair.“