ONE of the oldest buildings in a Ribble Valley town is set to be brought back to life.

Ribble Valley Council has made £200,000 available to help convert the upper floors of the former Co-op building in Berry Lane, Longridge, into flats.

The council's housing committee approved the grant, which it hopes will be the catalyst for a series of improvements in the area.

The flats will be one or two bedroomed and there will be eight in total.

It is hoped the rest of the money for the scheme will come from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Council chief executive David Morris said: "A total of £600,000 is needed for this scheme, and by placing down this £200,000, we hope the rest of the money will follow.

The redevelopment of the Co-op is central to a wider plan to create new facilities for Longridge, which, it is hoped, will turn it into 'the gateway to the Ribble Valley.'

A total of £700,000 was allocated to housing projects in the Ribble Valley. Some £500,000 will be spent on two projects elsewhere in the Valley.

New Progress Housing Association, meanwhile, is buying four two/three-bedroomed homes in very rural areas of the Valley to rent to applicants named by the council.

It is hoped the scheme will make housing in areas which have become fashionable for second-home owners more easily available to local people. Mr Morris added: "It is disappointing the scheme to convert the Co-op was not successful which is why we have put our money up for it."