A COUNCIL chief today welcomed the move to invite a "developer" rather than a "pension fund" to sort out Lord Square.
Standard Life vowed to carry out an extensive revamp of the shopping centre two years ago.
But in the long-running wrangle over the best way forward for Blackburn, Phil Watson (pictured), chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, today said it would be better to concentrate on developers as potential buyers.
"This is a very exciting time for Blackburn town centre and we have seen a lot of interest in the consultation process and our action plan.
"This move might bring in another major developer who might be more keen to carry forward refurbishments than Standard Life, who are more a pension fund than a developer.
"Standard Life have the majority interest in this sale but the council does too and that is why it is important it be seen in a positive light.
"It is an opportunity to see the town centre in context with the rest of the town centre development, including Church Street. It means that Lord Square can become a very exciting proposition for development."
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