COUNCIL bosses are prepared to use compulsory purchase powers to secure an East Lancashire shopping centre.

Town hall chiefs want to buy out Pendle Rise in Nelson so it can completely clear the site and redevelop the town centre for a new era. 

In partnership with the Manchester-based Brookhouse Group, Pendle Council is looking to redevelop the sprawling site as part of 'levelling-up' ambitions.

Judith Stockton, the borough's regeneration manager, says in a policy committee report that the centre, built as an Arndale mall in the 1960s, was now "dated".

And despite having major names like Boots and Wiko as tenants, 36 per cent of ground floor premises are vacant, which has "an adverse impact on the health of the town centre".

Mrs Stockton adds: "The council has been in touch with the freehold and leasehold owners of the land, with a view to obtaining ownership by voluntary means.

“Those with relevant interests shall be compensated in accordance with the statutory compensation code.

"Discussions are ongoing in respect of relocation arrangements for current tenants, with vacant town centre sites being prioritised for relocation where possible.

"The council shall continue exploratory dialogue with the traders of Pendle Rise with a view to securing appropriate relocation arrangements.

"The council has not been able to make a formal offer to acquire the land because there has to date been a lack of relevant information that would be required to properly inform any professional valuation."

She confirmed the authority had investigated using compulsory purchase powers to secure the site if the property could not be acquired by agreement.

The town is the focus of a £25m Town Deal project with Whitehall, with Pendle Rise considered to be a key regeneration factor.

In July,  Pendle Rise owners Future Properties sold the nearby former bus station and multi-storey car park site to McDonald’s for a new drive-through restaurant.

And Future Properties management says it is willing to negotiate with Pendle Council about the potential sale of Pendle Rise. It says its valuation is fair and rejected the suggestion by one councillor that their price was unrealistic.

The firm also questioned the council's decison to close the town's indoor market last year.

Councillors will discuss the Pendle Rise issue when the policy and resources committee meets on Thursday.