PLANS to rejuvenate a market hall to create a ‘vibrant’ shopping area have been brought for-ward by a year.

Councillors in Hyndburn agreed at a cabinet meeting yesterday to spend £500,000 of external funding on Accrington Market Hall in the current financial year, rather than waiting until 2009 to 2010.

The project, which will cost a total of £2million, will see the trading hall revitalised and the first floor of the building brought back into use over three phases.

The first ph-ase will begin following the trading lull after Christmas and the project is expected to be completed with-in 12 months.

Preparation work to ensure the building is structurally sound will kick-start the scheme.

This will be followed by phase two, which is the development of the first floor.

This includes the creation of retail units aimed at budding entrepreneurs.

Phase three will involve new stalls being added to the trade hall, along with a new layout, additional trading areas, and a new floor.

Designs for the third phase will be available before Christmas and will be completed next summer, ready for the 2009 Christmas shopping period.

The council has been working over the summer with development company QuarterBridge Ltd, which won the contract.

Coun Marlene Howarth, cabinet member for finance, who is leading the market hall’s regeneration, said she was ‘thrilled’ at the progress of the project.

Coun Howarth said: “QuarterBridge have under-taken an exten-sive analysis of the current operation of the market and have identified many success-ful features around the mar-ket and believe the investment will re-inject substantial footfall and turnover in the market hall, making it a vibrant shopping area within the town, and attracting a new wave of local shoppers, and drawing in new customers from across the region.

“I am thrilled that we are so far along with the project.”

Paul Barton, Barnfield ward councillor, said: “I am very thrilled. It is needed.

“It is magnificent for the people in my ward, and for Hyndburn.”