PLANS to redevelop Clitheroe’s market are moving forward after the property developer appointed an agency to market the scheme.

Nelson company Barnfield Construction, which was awarded the multi-million pound retail and leisure scheme called Market Quarter in December, has appointed Lambert Smith Hapton to market it.

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Situated just off Station Road, the proposed development, which was announced in October 2013, will cover approximately 50,000 sq ft.

It will contain a range of different-sized retail and leisure units as well as a 60-bed hotel.

Gareth Hine, an associate director on Lambert Smith Hampton’s retail consultancy team, said that investment in Clitheroe has been needed for a long time and hopes the scheme will attract a lot of occupiers.

He said: “On the basis that Clitheroe is the largest town in the Ribble Valley and has a thriving population and tourist industry, it could be said that some investment in the town centre is long overdue.

“Due to the local demographic and limited retail provision in the town at the moment, we expect that there will be plenty of interest from potential occupiers.”

The market dates from the Norman conquest in the 12th century making it around 900-years-old.

Planning permission is due to be submitted in autumn 2016, once prospective occupiers have been found for the units, and the first phase construction is scheduled to be finished by February next year.

Phase Two, which involves the remainder of the site, is scheduled to be completed by April 2018.

Barnfield Construction has worked on a variety of projects in the past including the Globe Centre in Accrington, the Ace Centre in Nelson, Stanley House in Mellor and Boundary Mill in Colne.

Dan Symonds, Barnfield Construction’s head of development, said he hopes that the scheme will bring in a variety of high-quality companies into the town.

He said: “The proposed scheme promises to provide a new retail and leisure experience for Clitheroe, not only with the creation of a new market, but we also hope to secure a number of high-quality retail and leisure operators not currently represented in the town.”