CATHEDRAL bosses today said they were confident they would soon have the money in place to start renovating three of Blackburn's oldest buildings.

Church leaders took control of the town's Georgian Waterloo Pavilions, in Church Street, last year from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

They unveiled plans to turn the three buildings into one by erecting glass structures in the gaps between the properties, which have been empty since the 1980s.

The renovation and restoration was orginally estimated to cost £1million - with the owners of Northcote Manor lined up to occupy the new building, which was seen as the jewel in the crown of the newly pedestrianised Church Street.

But last November it was revealed the cost of the project had more than doubled after building surverys suggested more work needed doing on the properties than first thought.

Today, Canon Andrew Hindley who is overseeing the project, said they were confident the scheme would be completed by its revised finsh date of Easter 2003, although the extra funding had not yet been guaranteed.

He said: "Following the receipt of planning permission and listed building consent to their scheme for the Waterloo Pavilions, the cathedral are pleased with the progress being made in funding discussions now being carried out through the partnership of the cathedral, the borough bouncil and the North West Development Agency together with their prospective tenants, the directors of Northcote Manor. It is hoped that these will lead in the near future to the design of the scheme being progressed to tender and implementation stage.

"Once we get the go-ahead, I think it will take about 12 months. That could start very soon."

The Grade II listed building project is being supported by the town's Townscape Heritage Initative, which is helping fund the restortion of the Fleming Square arcade. The planning permission gave approval for the three Georgian building to be retained and restored.

The buildings will be connected by two storey glass structures.

They will house a high-quality cafe bar on the ground floor, and a high quality restaurant on the first floor.

A decked area will look out on to the Cathedral and its grounds.

Blackburn Cathedral took on the project because it can access grants the council cannot.

Steve Hoyle, acting director for regeneration also welcomed the scheme and said: "This is a good example of how the council is committed to working to progress regeneration in the town centre.

"The cathedral team deserve credit for all their hard work to date. I look forward to continue working with them, to help deliver this important project."

Coun Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration said: "The team should applauded for all the hard work in bringing the project this far.

"If these buildings can be developed into what is proposed, they will form an important part of ongoing efforts to regenerate Blackburn's town centre."