A CONSERVATION plan has been launched to determine the future of the former Lay Brother's Dormitory at Whalley Abbey.

The Church of England Diocese of Blackburn and Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford, co-owners of the Abbey site, have been working together with English Heritage for some time to find a way forward for the unique building.

Now they have commissioned Manchester-based architects Lloyd Evans Prichard to carry out a conservation plan for the site. The study will include the Lay Brother's Dormitory, which is on English Heritage's 'Buildings at Risk' register, and has been causing concern to local residents for some time.

Warden of the Abbey the Rev Chris Sterry said: "The end result of this exercise will be a very exciting document which helps us to better understand the whole Abbey site, and gives us some pointers for the future.

"For a long time all the parties involved have had the will to work together, but the way forward has not been clear. This at last gets us all moving together in the right direction!"

Whalley Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery, with the church built between 1330 and 1380.

Its West Range, the cellarium, is currently partly used as a church hall, and is Grade One listed.

As well as the Whalley Abbey ruins, there is a 16th century conference house and chapel also in use..

The architects firm has expertise in tourism and leisure and ecology, as well as archaeology and ancient buildings, and will carry out the conservation plan in a number of phases. These include:

Understanding the site, which involves an in-depth study of the Abbey as it is today, as well as its history and architecture.

Assessing its significance and vulnerabilities, and considers the importance of the site on a national, regional and local level, and assesses some of the problems and opportunities it presents.

Looking at policies, which will set out a range of suggestions for the future management of the Abbey complex, including the Lay Brothers' Dormitory.

The last phase of the plan will involve widespread public consultation, not only with Whalley Parish and Ribble Valley Borough Councils and Heritage Societies, but with the wider public.

The plan is expected to be completed by May 2002.

In July this year English Heritage claimed a dozen buildings in East Lancashire, all designated Grade One or Grade Two listed, will be lost if they cannot be repaired and brought back into use.

Regional director Malcolm Cooper said: "The region has marvellous buildings, from country houses to its innovative industrial buildings."

English Heritage's new 2001 Register of Buildings at Risk says there are 34 buildings at risk in Lancashire as a whole, including the West Range at Whalley Abbey, the Great Barn, west of Hoghton Tower, Parkers Farmhouse, Cow Hill Lane, Rishton; Stanley House, Mellor, and the summerhouse, east of Turton Tower

Mr Cooper said: "Publication of the register is part of a process of tackling the problem, but we will also continue to give grants and to work with owners, local authorities and many others to see how we can bring down this number."