Morrisons' Bacup store moves step closer (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Morrisons' Bacup store moves step closer

10:47am Monday 5th December 2011 in Bacup By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A FIVE-YEAR battle to build a supermarket in Bacup is set to come to an end after the council agreed to buy the land.

Retails giants Morrisons have been looking to build a £7million supermarket on the site of the former Horace’s nightclub since late 2006.

But the deal hit a stumbling block when it was revealed the Co-op held a protective covenant stopping another major retailer from using the land.

Now council chiefs are to use compulsory purchase powers to buy the land, remove the covenant and sell it on to Morrisons.

Coun Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “Once we have purchased the land Morrisons will then buy it from us.

“Because of compulsory purchase powers only available to local authorities we can step over the protective covenant.

“I don’t advocate supermarkets everywhere but in this particular case it will tidy up a really poor site with a relatively decent building and it will also provide jobs in the area.”

Morrisons already has planning permission for the 2,020 sq metre store, which will create around 110 jobs.

A spokesman for the company said: “We are delighted to have now received planning consent and we are working towards commencing work on the site in Spring 2012.”