A MULTI-multi million town centre retail plan is back on track with architects just weeks away from submitting an application.

Lengthy delays due to unexpected costs and problems negotiating with council planners had derailed the bid to refurbish the former Accrington Conservative Club.

Aside from the unexpected effects of the credit crunch, developers said they also hit a snag with planning guidelines which recommended refurbishing the entire building.

This would have caused costs to spiral and reduced the space available, according to Woodgreen Developments, which plans to demolish the building’s badly damaged rear to be replaced with a new steel and glass building.

After lengthy negotiations with Hyndburn Borough Council’s planning department, developers said the £13million plans were back on track and should be submitted by the second week of January.

Developers are currently restoring the ornate frontage of the building, which will be retained as part of long-term plans to create a complex with restaurant, a large ground-floor function room, shops, offices, a gym and a roof-top cafe.

Developer Iftakharul Bhatti at Woodgreen Developments said they had returned to their original plans of providing a modern glass atrium built leading onto Paradise Street.

He said: “We were considering refurbishment rather than demolition of the rear but it is far too badly damaged.

"It would just cost far too much and create an awkward shape to the building.

"There has been a lot of negotiating between ourselves and the council on exactly the right way to restore the building and we have finished that phase of discussion.

"It is now time to press on and do something positive with this building, something I remain really keen to do.”