THE company bidding for Burnley town centre is a multi-million-pound organisation with properties throughout the United Kingdom.

Stannifer Developments has built retail parks in Edinburgh, Hamilton, Kilbride, Kircaldy, Inverness, Greenock, Coleraine, Aberdeen and Romford.

The firm has also built a Sainsbury's in Stirling and a Marks and Spencer store in Glasgow, which before the new site in Manchester opened was the largest in Great Britain.

The 10-year-old company has also won approval for an £85 million shopping and leisure development at Sprucefield in Northern Ireland.

It will include a Sainsbury's supermarket, non-food units, a business park, car showrooms an an hotel.

On its website the company says it is "committed to innovation and excellence and believe that each development should deliver something new and not simply follow established trends".

Chairman and Chief Executive of the company Ron Barrott said: "It is exactly 10 years since Stannifer was established. During that period we have created one of the UK's leading commercial property companies. However, no-one here is complacent.

"We are always committed to new opportunities and relationships and strengthening existing ones.

"We are ambitious as ever for Stannifer and look forward to continued growth as we build a fully integrated development, investment and management company."

A spokesman for Edinburgh Council said that the company had transformed what was once a spare piece of wasteland into a modern retail park, which incorporated Sainsbury's, Comet and Boots stores.

The firm was also behind a shopping centre in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

Since it opened the Sauchiehall Street development has won plaudits from councillors and architects and has played its part in rejuvenating the city's town centre.

As well as numerous interests within the United Kingdom, Stannifer has projects in Europe and is also looking to expand its operations on the continent.