A ‘DEAL’ is said to be on the table to transform the site of the dilapidated Valley Centre.

A meeting has been held between Rossendale Council and the owners of the Rawtenstall centre, Ashcap, to try and come to a decision over the future of the deserted shopping centre.

Despite not being able to go into too much detail for legal reasons, Rossendale Council leader, Coun Tony Swain said the meeting at Ashcap’s Manchester offices had ended positively and ‘an attractive deal had been placed on the table’ that could secure the demolition and redevelopment of the Bank Street site.

Coun Swain said: “My hands are tied about what I can tell you because of legal issues but after a difficult meeting we have placed an attractive deal on the table for Ashcap to consider.

“We discussed funding of the development in order to make it worth it for Ashcap.

"They now have until the end of the month to get back to us with a decision.

"I really hope they take the offer as it will really improve Rawtenstall town centre.”

A number of proposals are thought to have been discussed among the interested parties including two more

target="_blank">retail-based projects and two which are designed to be more mixed use.

The favourite proposal is thought to be for a hotel and civic centre to complement a number of retail units but nothing has been confirmed.

Since Ashcap and the council renewed their relationship after 12 months of awkward communication, the site’s future has looked brighter.

The last surviving shop in the Valley Centre, Rawtenstall Post Office moved to nearby Kay Street earlier this month to try and spur on the development.