8:00pm Thursday 11th March 2010
By Chris Hopper
BURNLEY’S flagship £250million Weavers’ Triangle scheme remains torpedoed by the effects of the recession - but bosses expect progress “within months”.
Regeneration leaders have spent millions making buildings safe in the historical area of the town and now need to appoint developers.
It is envisaged that the triangle, which was once the heart of thriving industrial Burnley, will be transformed into flats, offices, shops, restaurants, and a public square.
Council bosses shelved the Weavers’ Triangle ‘masterplan’ in 2008 due to the recession but say progress could now be made this summer.
Martin Smith, Burnley Council’s regeneration executive member, said: “We have been working to make the area safe and we are hoping that progress will be made with development soon.
“We have not got a strict timescale, we are just waiting to speak to people who show an interest.
“I would have preferred it not to have taken so long but hopefully we will be able to get developers on board in the next few months.”
Coun Smith’s pledge comes as St Modwen, the owner of Weavers’ Triangle buildings in the Finsley Gate area, applied for an extension to its outline planning permission for flats and offices.
Permission was granted in 2007 but a fresh bid has had to be made as it was due to expire because no building work has taken place.
Last year, Burnley Council spent £5million of North West Development Agency money buying up sites in the Westgate and Trafalgar Street area of the town.
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