THE opening of the final pavilion in Blackburn's flagship Church Street regeneration has been delayed yet again.

It means council bosses face having to wait until February for the £1.3million project to be completed, after battling for more than two years to fill the buildings.

East Lancashire's famous king of wallpaper' John Wilman is opening a high-end designer homeware store in the third Waterloo Pavilion.

It was originally planned to open in the summer, then was put back to mid October with the hope it would be trading by Christmas.

But the shop is still empty today and Mr Wilman said it was now unlikely to be open before February.

"I've got the keys now. It is just that things took longer than anticipated," said Mr Wilman.

Before the studio could open a staircase has to be fitted inside, and a new front entrance made.

Planning permission has had to be applied for as the building is listed, and outside agencies such as the English Heritage have to be consulted.

Mr Wilman said the staircase work had taken longer than first thought and that a disabled entrance had to be cut into the floor of the building.

He added: "I'm not disappointed because it gives me time to establish which way I want to go.

"I will be quite frank - I want to take it easy with this because the market (retailing) is difficult at the moment."

He revealed that a new wallpaper range designed by himself and produced by Shand Kydd will be exclusively available at his store.

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Tory opposition and who has been a critic of the pavilion plans, said: "I think he is being a shrewd businessman.

"Until the Mall's revamp is completed in 2009 I think the businesses in Church Street are not going to have an easy time."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, added: "We are pleased that the lease on this final unit of the Pavilions has been completed and that John Wilman will be open for business in the new year.

"Blackburn Town Centre is to become home to yet another exclusive shop which can only bode well for the economy and help bring the more discerning shopper to the borough."

The three pavilions had stood derelict for more than 20 years before a £1.3million project to restore the Georgian buildings in 2004.

It took more than a year before the first pavilion was filled. Alan Rene Hair and Beauty Salon, and Cafe Bees, operate in two of the buildings, and the third has been used for art exhibitions until a tenant was found.