A NEW £30 million flagship store in Colne is set to be given the green light tonight.

A planning application by Boundary Mill, one of East Lancashire's biggest retailers, is being recommended for approval at a meeting of the Colne and District committee.

The proposed development on the "Bunkers Hill" site at the end of the M65, will create another 100 jobs.

And a DIY store, previously earmarked for the Vivary Way site, will be built on the Boundary Mill land off Burnley Road.

Outline planning permission was granted in December 2004 for a non-food retail unit with a garden centre and builders' merchants with access from junction 14 of the M65.

But a further application had to be submitted for the latest proposals which include more retail floor space and the relocated store.

Concerns had been raised by traders who feared customers would take their business to the new store out of town, neglecting town centre shops.

But it is understood plans have been included to provide a shuttle bus, transporting people to and from the centres of Colne and Nelson to the store.

Grahame Wharton, of Grahame's Poultry, Market Street, chairman of Colne Town Centre Regeneration Forum of which many traders are members said: "At least the store puts Colne on the map.

"The town centre has been working with Boundary Mills so we can do a bit of advertising together and there should be a bus to the town centre, if they do that then I don't have any complaints.

"He employs a lot of people and he is a Colner so I personally don't have any problems with it."

Boundary Mill started 25 years ago selling lengths of cloth.

Today the firm, which has five stores nationwide and which attracts coach parties from all over the region, has helped put Colne on the map and employs 800 people in Pendle.

Nobody from Boundary Mill was available for comment.