PERMISSION to demolish a Burnley town centre landmark is being sought by shopping developers Great Portland Estates.

St James' tower and steeple has to go to make way for the £12 million redevelopment of the Curzon Street area, says the company and its Burnley Council partners.

But the 19th century steeple, next to the town's Peace Garden, is a Grade ll listed building and special permission is needed to down it.

Great Portland has now formally applied to council planning chiefs for listed building consent to carry out the work.

Much will depend on public response to the move - objections could trigger a public inquiry which could hold up the two-year new shopping scheme for months.

Burnley Council, which intends to transfer the Peace Garden to the square next to the Thompson recreation centre, says a similar exercise cannot be carried out on St James' spire.

Stone-by-stone demolition and rebuilding on another site would cost in excess of £250,000 and the extra cash simply isn't available, say town hall chiefs.

The council is already backing the scheme to the tune of £4 million in cash and land.

The Curzon Street project will see more than 80,000 sq feet of new shopping space created - including two new department stores next to the present Marks and Spencer.

New car parks will replace the market stack which will be demolished and shopping units created in the storage area beneath Burnley market, fronting Curzon Street.

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