PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Grand Cinema site in Nelson have been given the go-ahead.
The proposals will see the site of the historic cinema building, which burned down in 2001, transformed into offices, shops and a new cinema.
A compulsory purchase order for the site was agreed in January by Pendle Council's Executive and discussions with the North West Development Agency have secured outline approvals for a £1.7million cash injection.
The former Grand Cinema, built in 1888 as a theatre, had been transformed into Equinox nightclub before it burned down three years ago.
What remained of the building was demolished shortly after because it was deemed unsafe and the site has been derelict ever since. The site for the new proposals is bordered by Market Street, Cross Street, Russell Street and Back Scotland Road and the plans include some alterations to provide access.
It also includes other single-storey buildings and the Salvation Army site.
The outline application, approved at a meeting of the Nelson Committee on Monday, is for a 500-employee office block with a cinema and 28 parking spaces.
A report to the Nelson Committee states: "The site has been in a part derelict and parlous state since the former Grand Cinema was damaged and the defective structure removed.
"This application seeks to regenerate the site, and with it the wider central area of Nelson, by the removal of the existing buildings and erection of a single multiple use building."
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