A LANDMARK town-centre building looks set to be turned into apartments and shops.

Proposals have been submitted to Burnley Council to convert the former Burnley Express newspaper offices in Bull Street into 13 flats and four retail units.

The scheme would see the shops built on the ground floor along with three apartments, while seven flats would be on the first floor, two on the second floor and one at roof level.

And work to renovate the building has already started.

Planning officers at Burnley Council have delegated powers for the apartments, which means they will not have to be considered by planners.

The three-storey building has been sold at auction to property developer Ian Walker, the owner of Ian Walker Property Group, a year after the newspaper moved to a new home out of the town centre in August last year.

The plans have seen applicant Mr Walker create his own separate company, OBE (Old Burnley Express) to deal with the redevelopment project.

Cllr Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council welcomed the development.

He said: “I welcome the plans as they bring back to life an empty building that is not in use.

“In particular, I am pleased that this development offers a mixed use of apartments and retail.

“The development will help promote the town centre and bring life and dynamism into the town centre, which is a key aspiration of the council’s regeneration plans.

“It’s always disappointing when a building becomes vacant, and these plans would bring much-needed jobs, investment and homes to the town centre.”

In a portfolio of 140 properties across the North West, the Bull Street building is the latest acquisition for Mr Walker, who owns numerous buildings in Burnley town centre.

These include the listed former home of the law firm SFN in Red Lion Street, the Bees Knees bar which he transformed into apartments and shops and the former Garden Bar.

The Burnley Express building has been empty since August last year when it moved out of its Bull Street home.

The building had been home to the company for 84 years since 1933 before its move to Empire Business Park in Liverpool Road.