A MAJOR £250million regeneration of Burnley’s historic Weavers’ Triangle remains a priority, council chiefs say.

The flagship scheme was shelved last year after the recession brought major property projects to a shuddering halt.

But now ‘Burnley’s council leader Gordon Birtwistle has revealed the sprawling renovation is still moving forward and work is already under way while bosses wait for market conditions to improve.

He revealed that:

  • Surveys of the historic buildings are due to take place later this year with private developers invited to tender in the new year.
  • Two developers are “in talks” with Burnley Council and are interested in helping to rejuvenate the area.
  • Project leaders hope to turn part of the finished site into a ‘creative hub’ of independent media companies which could link into the BBC’s new ‘media city’ base in Salford.
  • Coun Birtwistle said: “At the moment the buildings are being surveyed to find out what needs doing with them.

    "Then when that is done, hopefully at the end of the year, we can offer them out to tender in the new year and developers can show us what they want to do.

    "I am aware of two developers who are interested already.”

    Although the bulk of the funding for the Weavers’ Triangle project will come from private developers, cash has also been pledged from the public purse.

Burnley Council has committed £600,000 and £1.95million from the Heritage Lottery Fund is paying for maintaining the historic mills and other buildings.

Meanwhile, £5million of North West Development Agency cash has been spent buying up sites in the Westgate/Trafalgar Street area of the Weavers’ Triangle.”