THE future of Burnley's former Co-op superstore site is set to be decided in the New Year.

Rival bids are competing for the Curzon Street site.

The Department of Work and Pensions want to replace the supermarket with a state of the art benefits centre while Stannifer Developments is hoping to build a new shopping avenue on the site.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the councils' development control committee next month.

At the meeting councillors and planning officers will determine whether the site should retain retail status or whether it can be used for a Jobcentre Plus.

Since the plans were revealed both viewpoints have drawn support.

The town's MP, Peter Pike believes the Jobcentre Plus bid is the right one for Burnley, but business leaders think that new shops are what is needed for that area.

At the meeting a presentation from Burnley's town centre management team will be delivered in a bid to get the council to ditch the Jobcentre Plus bid.

The team see increased retail capacity as central to the regeneration of the town centre. They are convinced that Burnley will fall further behind its nearest rival shopping towns if the Jobcentre Plus wins the bidding war.

Under the proposals the existing Job Centre in Bankfield will be closed and replaced with a new hi-tech base at the Curzon Street site.

The plans for the former supermarket site include:

A public entrance, reception and self-service forum area which will provide visiting members of the public with direct access to job vacancies via the internet.

An interview area where members of the public will receive advice from professionals on both job opportunities and the benefits process.

A call centre operation that will handle telephone calls about claims and general enquiries.

Stannifer, which already owns the Curzon Street and Charter Walk shopping areas, wants to extend Burnley's shopping district by demolishing the empty supermarket and building new shops in Curzon Street.