Roller rink plan for former Colne market hall and factory

The old Kippax building in Colne is being converted into an entertainment venue with roller rink, pool tables, arcades and bar and grill called Earnie’s.

Last year, Pendle Council’s Colne Committee members heard the former market hall and biscuit factory in Dockray Street, which could have been turned into a listed building, was in danger of falling into disrepair.

But now work is going on to convert the building and bring it back into use for the first time in almost a decade.

The roller rink, which forms the first phase of the renovation, is scheduled to open in May.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: "I’m delighted to see this long term empty building being brought back into use.

"Earnie’s will be a real entertainment destination for people of all ages and it’s a huge bonus to Colne and our town centre.

"It's inspiring to see the Kippax building which has been empty for so many years being transformed.

"Incredible work by Paul Earnshaw and team."

Last year, councillors discussed whether the building should be added to the council’s problem sites list and discussed what action could be taken to see it brought back into use.

Planning, building control and licensing manager, Neil Watson, said: “The building was proposed for listing in 2011 but did not have sufficient special architectural or historical interest in a national context to recommend it for listing.

“It is not being actively maintained but in itself appears externally sound and is not in a dilapidated state.

“Overall the site is not causing a problem in its present state but unless used, has the potential to do so.”

The market hall closed in 1973 and the building was subsequently bought by Kippax Biscuits.

Ownership changed a few times until the company was bought by Farmhouse Biscuits in 1993 and manufacturing was transferred to a site in Brook Street, Nelson, in 2006.

The building was sold off by Farmhouse in 2009 and has been vacant since at least 2011.