DEVELOPERS are battling it out to bring new life and new jobs to Burnley's former Prestige factory site, town hall chiefs revealed today.

Two companies want to take over the major nine-acre works, with both claiming they can provide the best deal - and most work - for Burnley.

Both want to re-develop the 60-year-old works with a mixture of retail and service industry units.

And both are racing to draw up a business plan, impact study and planning brief for the site.

Bombshell

Burnley council development manager, David Ellis, says at least one planning application involving some change of use of the industrial site is expected very early in the new year - exactly 12 months after the bombshell news that top cookware company, Prestige, had collapsed into receivership, with £15 million debts and the eventual loss of 330 jobs.

News of the major interest in the site comes on the day that control of the adjoining Anchor Retail Park has changed hands in a multi-million pounds deal. The lease on the 41,000 sq ft shopping site, which includes the Halfords, Curry's, Bensons Beds, Homestyle and Iceland stores, has been bought for £4.05 million by Norwich Property Trust from present holders, Boots Properties.

The move is the another indication of the growing interest in Burnley as a major retail and leisure centre, by companies willing to invest millions.

Town centre owners, Great Portland are about to embark on a £12.5 million new shops and parking development in Curzon Street and Marks and Spencer announced this month it was making a near £3 million investment in its town centre store.

Nearly £8 million will have been spent on the Hollywood Park cinema and leisure centre at Manchester Road and the council is planning a £5 million plus face lift for the Thompson recreation centre.

More retail development schemes are proposed for the Harcros site in Centenary Way and developers are showing major interest in moving onto Burnley's Prestigious Network 65 Business park.

More millions could be ploughed into Padiham's new Shuttleworth Mead industrial site next year - underlining a boom time for Burnley.

On the Prestige site, Mr Ellis said the council would study closely the impact any retail development would have on the town centre before giving any go-ahead.

He said the fact that the present factory was a listed building would also be a key factor in development, and added: "However we are very hopeful of an early development - something will be happening soon."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.