A NEW DIY superstore and garden centre in Burnley is set to create 45 jobs in the town.
Retail giant Homebase hopes to open the complex, in Calder Vale Road, next Easter after it secured the lease from a Leeds-based developer.
A leading councillor has called the development "brilliant news" and said it would help to keep shoppers in the town.
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The complex, which was previously a car dealership, will include separate DIY and garden centres as well as three car parks.
A 115-space site will be for Homebase customers but two other car parks - with a total of 80 spaces - will be run by Burnley Council and possibly contracted out to town centre workers.
Developers the Gregory Group were granted planning permission by councillors in February 2007 and have started work on the site.
Richard Tovey, from the firm, said: "We have worked hard for several years to bring forward retail development at this site.
"Homebase's commitment to the scheme has allowed our plans to be realised.
"We are delighted to move ahead as it will have such a positive impact on the town.
"We expect the project to be completed and the DIY store open for trade by Easter next year."
Coun Martin Smith, Burnley Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: "Anything like this will help the town.
"It is brilliant news and the sort of investment we are looking for in Burnley.
"Anything that attracts people into the borough and stops people straying outside is to be welcomed.
"We want to encourage growth of retail in Burnley to get people into the town centre."
The Gregory Group was also responsible for transforming the former Smith and Nephew site in Colne into the North Valley Retail Park.
Homebase used to be such a brilliant store until it was taken over by Argos. Now it sells nasty MDF cabinets and cheap garden furniture made in China, just like its sister company, and precious little else. If you want to see how far things have fallen, try the purgatory that is my local branch, on an industrial estate in Salford. Why can't we have a decent Wyevale instead?
Homebase used to be such a brilliant store until it was taken over by Argos. Now it sells nasty MDF cabinets and cheap garden furniture made in China, just like its sister company, and precious little else. If you want to see how far things have fallen, try the purgatory that is my local branch, on an industrial estate in Salford. Why can't we have a decent Wyevale instead?
Argos too used to be OK until it was swallowed by the GUS giant. This is the problem, giant stores taking over and swallowing up any innovative small stores.
Argos too used to be OK until it was swallowed by the GUS giant. This is the problem, giant stores taking over and swallowing up any innovative small stores.
The comments made here by members of the political elite show just how clueless they are when it comes to understanding business, competition and economics.
It's enough to make one weep. The state of our body politic, with few exceptions, is lamentable.
If Homebase open in Burnley it will compete with others providing similar products or services. While this is great for consumers it is not good news for the other businesses. No one is going to buy an extra bag of nails just because there's another DIY-store in town.
I have no problem with another DIY store opening but there are only a limited number of customers to go around. Retailing is fast becoming a zero sum game - you can attract custom only by taking it from someone else.
We have the same problem in Pendle. The political elite praise retail expansion as though it was the holy grail.
Most of the jobs in retail pay minimum wage or just above, and what they sell is not manufactured in the UK; and politicians think thus state of affairs is 'brilliant'.
No wonder we're in trouble.
The comments made here by members of the political elite show just how clueless they are when it comes to understanding business, competition and economics.
It's enough to make one weep. The state of our body politic, with few exceptions, is lamentable.
If Homebase open in Burnley it will compete with others providing similar products or services. While this is great for consumers it is not good news for the other businesses. No one is going to buy an extra bag of nails just because there's another DIY-store in town.
I have no problem with another DIY store opening but there are only a limited number of customers to go around. Retailing is fast becoming a zero sum game - you can attract custom only by taking it from someone else.
We have the same problem in Pendle. The political elite praise retail expansion as though it was the holy grail.
Most of the jobs in retail pay minimum wage or just above, and what they sell is not manufactured in the UK; and politicians think thus state of affairs is 'brilliant'.
Real Top Cat. Please study Kevin's post carefully for an excellent example of how to punctuate. If you put a little effort into planning your comment, then you might be taken slightly more seriously. Half witted babbling in upper case does not make for a constructive argument.
Real Top Cat. Please study Kevin's post carefully for an excellent example of how to punctuate. If you put a little effort into planning your comment, then you might be taken slightly more seriously. Half witted babbling in upper case does not make for a constructive argument.
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