NEW jobs could be on the way in a big redevelopment scheme to bring new life to the site of one of East Lancashire’s biggest leisure halls.

The home of the Bacup Hub, which played host to hundreds of civic events and private functions over more than two decades, is earmarked to become a’’drive-through’ retail outlet with a filling station.

Blackburn-based Euro Garages is behind the plans, which are to be submitted to Rossendale Council. It says the development would generate £3million of investment in Bacup.

The hub, in Burnley Road, was bought by Euro Garages this year. It has had a chequered past, with several relaunch attempts having failed in recent years.

The hall was transferred to private ownership by Rossendale Council after being deemed out of date and no longer viable after a review in 2009.

The building went on the market again in 2015 and was used only ad hoc until it was bought by Euro Garages.

The venue was reopened as the Broadwater Hall in June last year but closed just four months later.

Now it faces a brighter future under the Euro Garages proposals to transform the vacant site.

If the plans are approved by Rossendale planners, the company says a ‘sustainable and economically beneficial’ development will create jobs and training opportunities.

Tom Jeremiah, senior planning manager at Euro Garages, said: “The use of this site as a leisure hall or similar local facility has proved unsuccessful over a number of years.

“We are now proposing a sustainable new use, which will provide significant economic benefits such as jobs, training and infrastructure within Bacup.

“Euro Garages has a proven track record of delivering schemes such as this one, and we have found that even in economic downturns they perform well, generating employment and supporting economic growth.

“We are excited to be putting the proposals to Rossendale Borough Council for consideration and we look forward to working with it, and the community, in the months and years ahead.”

A planning application will be submitted to Rossendale Borough Council ‘imminently’.

Bacup councillor James Eaton, who celebrated his appointment as Rossendale mayor at the venue in 2003, sits on the borough planning committee.

He said: “I will look at this application with an open mind and make the correct decision for the people of Bacup and the surrounding area.”