AN empty shop is set to open and create 20 jobs after standing empty for more than five years.

The former Co-op store unit in the Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, Nelson, is due to re-open as Home Bargains.

Centre owners Modus Properties, were delighted to announce they have let the 9,000 sq ft unit to the household goods company which supplies more than 75 stores in the North of England and the Midlands.

Work is expected to begin on the shop within the next six to eight weeks.

Modus Properties, who took over the centre in May last year, is currently carrying out a re-branding and improvement programme at the shopping centre and are close to concluding deals with other national multiple retailers.

They expect to make a further announcement at the end of February.

Brendan Flood, managing director of Modus Properties, said: "I am encouraged by the signing of Home Bargains to Pendle Rise and hope to follow up on the back of this deal with other major names in the very near future. Following our acquisition of the centre we immediately set about looking at ways of regenerating the centre. This first step is a very important one and shoppers will begin to see other improvements very soon. "Modus has established a good working relationship with the Borough of Pendle who have been very positive and supportive of our plans for the area's main enclosed shopping centre."

As part of the ongoing development programme at Pendle Rise, Modus is spending £200,000 on major improvements to the 400 space multi-storey car park, making it a safer and more pleasant area for shoppers.

This will include updating it to ensure it is structurally sound, creating easier access and making it more shopper friendly.

Parking in the car park will remain free for shoppers after the improvements.

The first phase of new signage will be in place at the shopping centre -- formerly known as the Admiral Centre -- within the next four to six weeks and shoppers have already seen a brighter look with entertainment for youngsters provided by the Shoppertainment team.

There are currently about a dozen units to let in the centre which Modus hope to have filled in approximately 12 months time.

Janet Bradbury, executive director (development) at Pendle Council, said: "We are very encouraged by Modus' extensive plans for the improvement of the new Pendle Rise Shopping Centre.

"We have been impressed by how Modus have addressed our concerns over the quality of management and have shown themselves as a leader in the market, with the quality of their service.

"We are already starting to see the fruits of their work by the signing of Home Bargains and hope to see more quality name retailers in the near future for the residents of Nelson."