WIMPEY Homes are holding out for planning changes before they sign the contract which will allow the long-awaited demolition of Burnley's Trafalgar flats to go ahead.

The company, which will clear the remaining blocks and build 90 new houses and flats on the site, wants amendments to the planning permission already given by the council.

Town hall chiefs say the final details are now being ironed out but have expressed concern over further delays to the project which waited for many months for £1.7 million grant approval from English Partnerships.

The delays to the final phase of the re-development - 59 new homes have already been built on part of the site - have brought many complaints from residents and mounting frustration for councillors who have seen vandalism and arson attacks on the remaining blocks in recent months. Officers say the legal agreement which will hand over ownership to the developer has been ready for signing for some time.

Once Wimpey signs, demolition could be under way within four weeks. It will take up to six months to complete.

Housing chairman Coun Rafique Malik said: "The council is seriously concerned that it has not yet been possible for Wimpey Homes to take over the site and begin demolition.

"We are working with Wimpey to reach a solution on the final sticking point - changes they want to make to their planning application."

Once the first block has been demolished, the council aims to start building a new community centre on part of the site with finance from Burnley Challenge Fund and English Partnerships.

The overall £12 million re-development project also includes 81 new houses already built on land at Whittlefield.

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