PLANS to turn a historic town centre building into a cultural venue are to take two major steps forward on Wednesday.

Hyndburn Council's cabinet will be asked to make a bid for £5million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to help pay for the transformation of Accrington's Market Chambers.

And it will also be requested to start the process of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for any parts of the building opposite the town's Market Hall which cannot be be bought by agreement with the owners.

Following the council’s successful £20m bid to the government’s levelling up fund, it has the money buy Market Chambers building and refurbish the Market Hall opposite and the nearby Burton's Chambers to create the 'Accrington Acre' redevelopment as part of the 2022 Town Centre Investment Plan.

Now it is seeking lottery funding to undertake the works needed to create the proposed heritage and culture centre within Market Chambers

Hyndburn Council's levelling up boss Cllr Mohammed Younis tells the meeting on Wednesday in a report that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been identified as a good fit for potential funding as it will help preserve and at risk heritage building; will reach a wider group of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic minorities and young people; and offers good value for money.

His report says the council submitted an 'Expression of Interest' in September 2022 after which the fund asked for it to submit a development plan.

The council will be submitting an application by noon on August 17 and hopes to receive a decision by the end of December 2023.

Cllr Younis's report says "The NLHF submission for Market Chambers should be focused around the theme: 'Hyndburn is global. Its inventions and their impacts have changed the course of history. Its social fabric has been shaped by the world. The North and the UK’s story is interweaved with that of Hyndburn’s.

'We will tell that global story and impact through the lived experiences of local people - including children and those of South Asian heritage. Those stories, noises, sights, feelings and smells will be told in an immersive way using modern technology including virtual reality, soundscapes and lighting aligned with collections and physical objects.'

In is report to start the making of a CPO Cllr Younis also seeks authorisation to agree compensation and acquisition payments where this will avoid the need to use it.

It says: "Progress continues to be made for the acquisition of interests in Market Chambers but it appears unlikely that agreement will be reached in a reasonable timeframe to secure all interests.

"Compulsory purchase will be required if private treaty negotiations fail."