SECRET talks have been taking place with a national company in a bid to settle the future of three historic buildings in Blackburn town centre.

A leisure company is keen to transform the Pavilion buildings into a top restaurant and leisure complex.

The aim is to build a new restaurant, wine bar and cafe without spoiling the character of the historic structures.

The council is desperate to find a use for the three listed buildings in Church Street which have been standing empty for around five years.

Several similar schemes have collapsed and the empty buildings are starting to show signs of wear and tear. Planners at Blackburn with Darwen Council have come up with the idea of linking the three buildings with glass corridors.

The scheme was given planning permission with the aim of marketing the project to developers.

Manchester-based property specialists, Grimleys, were taken on to market the scheme to property developers.

A firm, which is not being named, has also expressed an interest and talks are under way.

Councillors discussed the project behind closed doors at a property sub-committee meeting where members agreed to give officers three months to try and tie up the deal.

Property chairman Dave Harling said: "If the scheme is to have a chance of being ready for next Christmas, the developers have said they would want to apply for a magistrates licence immediately.

"In order to allow them to pursue their interests, we have agreed to enter into exclusive negotiations with the company for three months.

"If another company was to make an approach with a scheme then we would obviously consider its viability."

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