A NEW garden centre could be planned for The Peel Centre in Whitebirk Drive, Blackburn, new documents have revealed.

An application to carry out work to create a 'garden centre ancillary' has been lodged with Hyndburn Council by owners Peel Land and Property Investments.

Customers would access the centre through a currently vacant unit, 6a, which could be set to sell a range of goods including furniture, household goods, wallpaper, and DIY products, documents show.

It is not believed a trader is ready to move in, however.

In a planning statement given to council officers, NJL Consulting said: "By adding the garden centre, it it proposed to make the unit suitable for the full range of occupiers within the growing variety home store sector.

"The proposal is expected to speed up reoccupation of a vacant unit, in turn speeding up the creation of jobs. There is a pressing need to significantly improve the customer appeal and physical appearance of The Peel Centre.

"The proposed garden centre, in conjunction with the previously approved scheme of improvements to units 6a and 6b, will deliver physical improvements to facilitate occupation."