THE new plans for an East Lancashire town centre will create a 'fantastic leisure attraction'.

Neil Hart, CEO of Burnley FC has praised the scheme for the Pioneer Place development in Burnley.

Mr Hart, who is also chair of the public/private sector initiative Burnley Bondholders, was impressed by the news that a revised application had been submitted for Pioneer Place, on the former Co-op site in the town centre.

The £21.3 million development, which will deliver 180 construction jobs, 120 new jobs and £1.35 million gross value added (GVA) to the local economy, will include a seven-screen cinema and 12,750 sq ft of leisure and retail space. This will all be centred around a new public realm.

Mr Hart told Burnley.co.uk: “Pioneer Place will be a fantastic leisure attraction for residents in the town, Burnley FC fans from far and wide who come to home matches and of course, football fans who travel to Burnley for away matches.

“Burnley is fairly unique in that it has a Premier League club with a town centre presence. Turf Moor is easily accessible by car, public transport and by foot from the town centre, which includes the Pioneer Place site.

“This means, in normal times, football fans travelling to and from Turf Moor can explore our town centre’s shops, restaurants and bars, many of which are independent, as well as the new offering from Pioneer Place. The club is proud of what Burnley has to offer and we’d always recommend visitors make a long weekend of our town.

"From attractions such as Towneley and Gawthorpe Halls (the latter of which is where our training ground is based), the Singing Ringing Tree and the luxury Crow Wood Hotel and Spa, there’s plenty to see and do here.”

Work is expected to commence on Pioneer Place this summer.

Pioneer Place will be another asset to add to both the domestic and visitor economy and there are 2.6 million people visiting every year.