REVISED plans for a multi-million pound hotel and conference centre on the site of a former college will help regenerate a town centre, developers have said.

Valley developers the Hurstwood Group has asked for outline permission to build a 60-room hotel, rooftop restaurant and underground parking, conference centre, offices, on the site of the former Accrington and Rossendale College at the bottom of Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall.

In February Hurstwood hit out after its original proposals - for a six-storey, 60-room hotel and 94 apartments - were turned down by Rossendale Council because councillors said they were not suitable for the site.

At the time Hurstwood said the decision would lead to "stagnation and decay" in the town.

Plans for the apartments in the scheme have now been dropped.

Hurstwood Director of Planning, Daniel Hartley said: "We have taken a fresh look at the college site, following the feedback received from councillors and public, and have come up with a further exciting new option.

"We have taken note of the council's views and put forward detailed plans for buildings that combine traditional natural materials with contemporary designs.

"In short, this proposal is exactly what the council has asked for.

"The former college site is one of the main gateways to Rawtenstall and it is important that we put forward a scheme that is suitable, sustainable and accessible.

"While we have listened carefully to what people have suggested, we still believe Rawtenstall is crying out for a hotel and the former college site is a wonderful location for one.

"We still feel that this scheme, which would still require the submission of a detailed reserved matters planning application, would help to regenerate the site and town centre."

Welcoming the modified plans council leader Duncan Ruddick said the original proposal had gone against Government policy, which restricts housing development in Rossendale.

He said: "The new plans have added a fantastic conference centre to the application.

"I saw them yesterday and think they are more likely to be successful than the old ones.

"It will do a lot for town centre regeneration and the wider project will bring a mass of opportunities in Rawtenstall."

Hurstwood plans to market the site to hotel operators if the application is successful.