A £5MILLION blueprint for the redevelopment of the Pendle Rise Shopping Centre in Nelson has been announced.

Owner Modus Properties has submitted a planning application to Pendle Borough Council for an extension the mall and further improvements to the car park.

The revamp, which also includes mall refurbishment works, is expected to cost in the region of £2.5 million. Further works carried out by retailers will bring the total investment in the centre to £5 million.

The news follows an announcement earlier this year that discount retailer Home Bargains are to open a new store in the former Co-op unit at the end of May. The first phase of works on the car park is due to be completed by June, providing 375 free car parking spaces.

Plans include building a two-storey retail extension to the west of the centre on the Place de Creil, close to Woolworths.

Brendan Flood, managing director of Modus, said: "We are delighted to have reached this stage with our proposals and hope start work in the summer.

"We are confident that the variety and mix of retailers who we are currently in discussions with will provide the ideal venue for Pendle shoppers. Our long term aim is to restore Pendle Rise as the principle shopping location and encourage people to visit Nelson for their shopping, as opposed Burnley or Skipton"

Janet Bradbury from Pendle Borough Council said: "Local councillors and officers have been working hard at improving Nelson town centre for a number of years and it is good to see the public sector investment beginning to pay dividends in terms of attracting private sector investment and new retailers to the town."

Mr Flood added: "We have received a number of enquiries from operators interested in establishing a toe-hold in the Pendle area and I can confirm that we are in the latter stages of securing two additional anchor tenants."

Nelson town centre manager, Jan Joshi, said: "This is a crucial development. The Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, along with the Grand Cinema site, is the anchor for the town centre.

"A development like this would attract investors in to the area, as well as additional shoppers and it would add to the variety of shops within the town centre. It will retain and attract businesses to the area.

"It would also improve the image of Nelson town centre. It would be a very positive step forward."

Stephen Maden, 59, of Halifax Road, Nelson, said: "I think it is a waste of time, money and effort. There must be 60 per cent of floor space in the shopping centre empty at the moment and Scotland Road is a disaster with hardly anything open. They've got to fill the existing shops. There's no need for any more."

Geraldine Cantwell, 40 of Ringstone Crescent, Nelson, said: "It is a good idea but at the same time a bad idea because there's so many shops that are closing down in Nelson. To expand the centre would mean it was all in under one roof and convenient for people but what about the other shops that are already empty."

Charlotte Konieczny, 21, who works in Nelson and lives in Burnley, said: "I think they do need more shops in Nelson because there's definitely not enough choice.

"It should benefit the town but I think they should work on filling empty shops first before money is spent extending the shopping centre."