CONSTRUCTION work will start this month on a new childcare development in an East Lancashire town.

Rossendale Borough Council and Bright Futures Early Learning have signed the final lease agreements enabling building to begin at Futures Park in Bacup.

The new centre, due to open in September 2021, will provide nursery and childcare babies and youngsters aged up to four.

It is expected to create up to 30 jobs.

Bright Futures, a not-for-profit social enterprise, already runs a nursery based in Calder Road, Rawtenstall, which opened in 2012 and was rated outstanding by Ofsted in 2013 and 2020.

Planning permission for the scheme on Futures Park plot one was granted by Rossendale Council at an extraordinary meeting in June.

The new centre will provide full-time day care and early years education provision and separate multi-purpose rooms for educational and activity sessions

Cllr Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “It is great news that work can finally begin onsite.

"There is a significant need for nursery provision across east Rossendale and we’re extremely happy that Bright Futures Early Learning have chosen to base their next centre here.”

Martin Kirk, Bright Futures chair of trustees, said: “Our organisation is now looking forward to the new centre opening.

"We have had lots of interest and enquiries in the last couple of months and are already receiving firm bookings for places.

“We are also keen to start working with local organisations to explore ideas about what we can jointly develop in the new centre and would encourage people to contact us if they’d like more information."