ANOTHER new shopping development is on its way to Accrington as the town's centre prepares to undergo a massive facelift.

More than £1.5million is being spent to demolish the Accrington Business Centre in Hyndburn Road and create two new stores with a health and fitness centre above them.

The development, from Cheshire-based Gemsupa Ltd, has already been given planning approval and will, when opened, complete an out-of-centre retail belt along Hyndburn Road, filling in the gap between Asda and Homebase.

The developers are promising two well-known names for the shop units.

A spokesman for Gemsupa said: "The leisure centre, which will be 13,000 sq ft, will be an excellent addition to the area's amenities.

"It will provide Accrington with a top facility and we promise that both the businesses inside the shop units will be run by nationally-known concerns.

"This is a considerable investment for us and demonstrates just how confident we are about Accrington's future.

"The site is ideal, situated between two well-known and established stores."

Building work on the site is expected to begin soon, with a Christmas completion date already set.

The three existing firms based in the business centre -- a carpet wholesalers, electronics company and pine workshop -- will all relocate.

The new development follows hot on the heels of planning approval for the £7 million revamp of Accrington Market.

As well as creating a brand new market, two large stores -- a new Wilkinson's discount store and a sports shop -- will be created in the town centre.

Six smaller shops will also be created on Broadway, opposite Marks & Spencer, with the market running from Broadway to Peel Street.

Broadway is also set for a revamp, with kiosks being placed down the middle of pedestrianised street in a bid to increase customer flow between the Arndale Centre and the new market.

Coun Jim Dickinson, chairman of Hyndburn Council's development services committee, said: "This is good news for Accrington as it will improve the diversity of retail facilities on offer.

"We are already seeing improvements to the town centre with a new cinema on the way as well as the wholesale changes to the market."