A LAND swap deal is in prospect which should a Pendle car dealership move across the borough - and aid the wider regeneration of the former Brierfield Mills.

Bosses at Clitheroe Road Car Sales in Brierfield have been in talks with the borough council over the possibility of their operation switching to the old Regent Cinema site in Leeds Road, Nelson, which has been vacant for some time.

And while these discussions stalled last summer, town hall chiefs now want to press ahead with the arrangement.

Nine tenders were officially received for the former cinema land, located between Vulcan Street and Priory Street.

And Clitheroe Road Car Sales, which had been discussing possible compensation for its Brierfield site with the authority, again expressed a formal interest in the site.

In a report economic development services manager Julie Palmer told councillors that the borough now “urgently requires possession” of the Clitheroe Road site, so the next stage of the Brierfield Mills redevelopment can be progressed.

Mrs Palmer has insisted that the deal should still see the old cinema location being sold off “at market value”.

She added: “In order to enable the Brierfield Mill scheme to move forwards the executive is recommended to abandon the marketing of the Leeds Road site and advise all tenderers accordingly.

“The council is not under any obligation to accept any of the offers made nor proceed with the sale of the land.”

Executive board members have been urged to authorise strategic director Philip Mousdale to agree terms with the car sales company.

The old cinema site has been in the authority’s hands since it acquired the freehold in 2009 and it was declared surplus to requirements last December.

Tentative discussions were held with a nearby doctors’ surgery over the possibility of the cleared site being used for car parking but these were never concluded.

Councillors have been told that any deal with Clitheroe Road Car Sales may be dependent on planning permission being obtained. If this was unsuccessful then the site may be remarketed.