BOUNDARY Mill has been given permission to build a £30million store in Colne.

And the development on the "Bunkers Hill" site at the end of the M65 will create 100 jobs.

The planning application was given the green light by councillors at a meeting last night despite concerns over the impact the new flagship store will have on the environment.

Waterside Coun Ian Robinson said: "I was never happy with this but whether we like it or not a beautiful part of this planet is going to be destroyed.

"The only consolation is that it is being destroyed by this particular application. I feel a lot of our concerns have been addressed by the applicant and dealt with fairly and in an honest way.

"I don't think this is going to be a major problem to humanity; I think it's going to be the wildlife that loses."

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.

A long list of conditions have been added by the local authority covering the environmental impact, traffic matters, visual amenity of the store and landscaping.

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

Boundary Mill started 25 years ago selling lengths of cloth.

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