A RUNDOWN part of one of Burnley's main shopping streets is expected to be a town hall focus for 2020-21.

Council bosses have previously lodged a £1.3million bid to revamp Lower St James Street, where there are a number of empty properties, as part of the Historic High Street Fund.

And while final funding levels are yet to be revealed, Burnley Council has identified the Lower James Street Historic Action Zone as one of its five major capital schemes for the year ahead.

Upgrades to two playing fields, Padiham Town Hall improvements, a community project for Finsley Wharf and new lighting for Burnley Mechanics are the other four. Another £50,000 has been set aside for measures to tackle climate change, like more electric vehicles and tree planting.

Coun Margaret Lishman, resources executive member, said: "The new administration has put investing in our borough’s future as its key priority, making it a place where people want to live, where businesses choose to invest, and doing our bit to tackle climate change."

The proposals, if approved at a February 26 full council meeting, will see a 1.99 per cent precept rise for the authority's portion of council tax.