SIX “prominent” retailers have been lined up to kick-start a new Burnley shopping centre.

Developers say a pair of major stores have agreed to ‘anchor’ the £70million Oval scheme after long-running talks about investing in the town.

And up to four more shops are also looking at moving into the shopping centre, which would be on the former Pioneer site, off Curzon Street.

Bosses at Manchester-based Henry Boot have refused to name the retailers, saying legal documents still need to be drawn up before a formal announcement later this year.

But the news has been hailed as “fantastic” by the town’s council leader and independent traders have also backed the move.

Simon Jew, regional manager at Henry Boot, said: “The scheme has progressed considerably during the past six months.

“We are now in advanced discussions with six prominent retailers concerning key units.

“These retailers will be new to Burnley town centre and will greatly improve the town's current retail offer.

“We aim to be in a position to announce the identities of these retailers, once contracts are concluded in early autumn.”

The announcement is a welcome coup for the town and it comes after months of top-level talks and follows the withdrawal of Debenhams from the scheme last year.

Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said the boost would go hand in hand with the new £81million higher education campus which the University of Central Lancashire will open in the town next year.

He said: “There will be 1,000 students at the new college and they will be customers for these stores.”

And he added: “I have heard the two anchor stores are major high street retailers so this is brilliant news. It is fantastic.

“If Henry Boot can get these two names signed up, along with the new college and university, it will start to lift the whole town like we said it would.

“I have always said if we become prosperous, we will get the retailers.

“It is now accepted that the town is prosperous and on the up, and people are coming in. The council’s commitment is giving people confidence.”

George Heys, president of the Burnley Chamber of Trade, said: “This has got to be good news and it is good for the town.

“We could do with something happening to the Oval site.

“It will bring people to the town and I don’t think it will pose too much of a threat to the specialist shops.

“These are interesting and exciting times.”

Earlier this year, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed developers were in talks with two major high street names about moving into the Oval.

It followed last year’s blow to the scheme when Debenhams, which had been pencilled in as an anchor store, pulled out of the deal.

The department store giant said it did not want to damage sales at its Blackburn premises.

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