THE ambitious plans for Burnley town centre unveiled exclusively in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph this week will no doubt have excited many in the town.

But can Stannifer Developments deliver what they promise?

Reporter Danny Brierley looks at Romford in Essex, where a new shopping complex built in partnership with the council and Stannifer has transformed the town...

THE developers bidding for the former Co-op superstore site in Burnley want their plans for the town to be as successful as a project that transformed the heart of Romford.

The award-winning Romford Brewery shopping and leisure project opened in April 2001. The £118million development covers nearly 10 hectares and has brought an new mix of facilities to the town. It includes a 16-screen cinema, a health club, a family entertainment centre, shops, restaurants and over 160 homes in a residential quarter.

The development is the biggest town centre redevelopment scheme within the M25. The scheme brought 1,500 jobs and benefits for the community, including new public open spaces, a new bus station, a museum and traffic and environmental improvements..

A spokesman for Stannifer said: "Working in partnership with Havering Borough Council and other bodies such as English Heritage and the Royal Fine Arts Commission led to unanimous support for the proposals from council members and a harmonious relationship throughout the construction process.

"It beat off stiff competition to win the coveted Best New retail Park trophy at the Retail Property Awards 2002. The scheme had already won a similar accolade for the first phase at the Retail Property Awards 2001."

The project seems to have had universal approval.

Julie Russel, news editor for the Romford and Havering Post said: "Romford was already a bustling town, but the development put it higher up the national retail leagues. The Brewery is always really busy."

Local Chamber of Commerce spokesman Jo Neal said: "It has been a great success. I was there last week and I didn't see one empty shop. It is running very well. Members of the public love it. They have great parking facilities right next to the stores."

Matul Patel, a manger of the Number 10 Bowling Alley in the centre, said: "The complex is of a very modern design. It is well lit with 24-hour security. It has definitely been a good move for us.

"Everyone knows where is and when people want somewhere to go to meet up, they choose the Romford Brewery."

Now Stannifer would like to do the same for Burnley's Co-op site, which has stood empty for the past two years.

Since buying the Charter Walk and Curzon Street sites, Stannifer have been finding ways to give Burnley a much needed boost.

Their development manager for Charter Walk, Paul Blythe, said the demand from retailers for space in Burnley must be capitalised on.

He said: "These could be exciting times for Burnley. This is where we take our research forward and try to deliver for the demand we have experienced.

"The key is to act now. The success of the Romford Brewery project rested on the relationship we developed with Havering Council.

"We want to re-create that relationship in Burnley and deliver this project to move the town forward."."

Romford is now ranked in the top five shopping centres of Greater London, outside the West End, and boasts one of the busiest street markets in the country.

Burnley's council leader Stuart Caddy and the town's MP Peter Pike are giving the plans a cautious welcome. Both are staying tight lipped until the sale of the Co-op site has been completed.