PENDLE is hoping to make it three successes in a row in bidding for millions of pounds of Government cash to regenerate the centre of Nelson.

The area around the centre, including much of Whitefield and Bradley wards, is the most disadvantaged in the borough with poor housing and high unemployment particularly among young people.

Council chiefs and Pendle Partnership, the consortium of private, public and voluntary groups, are drawing up proposals to bid for the sixth round of Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) cash.

Pendle has been successful twice in obtaining SRB cash to regenerate industry and help get young people into work.

The council's corporate policies manager Brian Astin said that although the odds were against a third success it should not stop a bid going in.

The Nelson centre bid would support a housing renewal scheme set to start in the area next year and would continue the successful themed approach of previous bids. But substantial efforts would be needed to encourage private input into the bid and it would have to be seen as innovative to stand any chance of success.

The Nelson centre project is the preferred option over other schemes to extend the previous SRB2 economic regeneration bid and an application for cash to boost skills and training.

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