A FIRM struggling to sell the mill site it is quitting near Accrington town centre will have to wait for a crucial planning ruling.

Office furniture manufacturers Lupton Bros Ltd was granted planning permission in December for the demolition of its huge Portland Street mill and development of retail units on the site.

A condition of that planning consent was that there would be no food retailing from the development.

Now the company is pressing the council to lift the ban and give the green light to the sale of food products.

Hyndburn development services committee deferred a decision on the application to a meeting of the full council.

Lupton Bros is relocating its operation to Venture Court on the Altham industrial estate.

Hyndburn Council leader, Coun George Slynn said the authority had not had enough time to consider its response.

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