DEMOLITION has started this week as work gets underway to create a new future for Colne’s former Health Centre on Market Street.

A long-awaited scheme to turn the former heath centre into flats for older people with shops on the ground floor has now begun.

Leader of Pendle Council, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, said: “The 1970’s health centre will have a new lease of life when the site is totally re-built with a new purpose at the heart of Colne.”

The Health Centre and surgery were closed in 2014 when the new multi-million pound Health Centre on Craddock Road opened.

Cllr Iqbal added: “We’ll be building a three storey building with six modern apartments for older people on two floors and shops on the ground floor.”

“This development at a key site helps us respond to the demand for more housing choice in Pendle, including one and two bedroom apartments.”

Cllr David Whipp added: “We’re delighted that this key site is being developed.

“When complete it will contribute to the vibrancy of the town and provide some new business opportunities and more shopping options on the high street, he added.

Local people took part in a consultation led by Pendle Council on how the site should be used and what the development should look like and this has shaped the plans.

Tim Webber, managing director of Barnfield, said: “Colne Health Centre, with its outdated appearance and poor design, was completely at odds with the conservation area it was built in.”

The Conservation Area includes historic Richmond Court, the Grade II listed Red Lion pub next door and the 15th century market cross opposite.

Mr Webber added: “As local developers based in Pendle we’re proud to be part of this new scheme which has been designed to be in keeping with its historic surroundings".

Demolition work should finish by early October and the development will be ready by December 2020.

The project has been taken on by PEARL, a joint venture between Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties Ltd called Pendle Enterprise and Regeneration Ltd.