PLANS for a massive redevelopment in Burnley could move a step closer later this week after council bosses revealed they were about to choose potential developers for the £25million scheme.

A shortlist of five of six firms to develop the former Co-op Pioneer site in Curzon Street is being drawn up by the council and town centre managers.

Burnley Council hopes to attract a major retail name such as Debenhams to the town and claims the scheme could create up to 400 jobs.

The plans and the process of cutting down the shortlist will be discussed at a meeting of Burnley council tomorrow.

The news is the latest boost to town centre shopping in East Lancashire, following the announcement of a £13million plan to regenerate areas of Blackburn town centre last month.

There, traders have also been buoyed by plans to revamp Lord Square.

And it comes as town centre managers are calling for investment to help them fight off competition from larger shopping centres such as Manchester's Trafford Centre and Preston.

The North West Development Agency last year gave a grant of £2 million to buy the long-term lease back from the Co-op so Burnley Council would be the sole owners of the site, which is being used as a 230-space shoppers' car park until the development starts.

Stannifer, the company which bought the Curzon Street and Charter Walk shopping areas, has major plans for the site and is one of those hoping to be chosen.

Developers who make the shortlist will go away to prepare firm proposals for the site before a final firm is chosen in June.