PLANS to breathe new life into part of Nelson face a 12 month delay because of new Government red tape.

Pendle's civic leaders are furious that schemes in Bradley ward will have to be put back due to new planning regulations which mean four more reports need to be done before a masterplan' can be presented to residents.

There will then have to be a planning inquiry and the scheme will have to be approved by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Pendle Council's executive member for Housing Market Renewal Coun Tony Greaves said: "We have just been hit by a great new tangle of government imposed red tape.

"I am very sorry for the residents. I am frustrated by the red tape. And I am furious that yet more obstacles have been placed in our work to regenerate Nelson."

The revamp is being funded by Elevate East Lancashire and residents had expected to see the plans later this month. They will now not be able to comment until late May.

Coun Greaves said he was sorry that publication of the final proposals in the masterplan would now have to be delayed until May, but that this was necessary to speed up the process in the longer run.

He said: "If we don't carry out all these extra appraisals and studies now, they will make us start again from scratch later on and that will take even longer."

The scheme is likely to include the redevelopment of the Riverside Mill site for housing, along with extensive proposals to renovate much of the terraced housing in the area, and probably some limited demolition. There are also likely to be proposals for development or improvement to other sites in the area as well as improvements to the Leeds Road main road gateway' into the town.

Pendle Council will now write to residents in the Bradley Priority Action Area to let them know about the timetable changes.

The council's Housing Market Renewal committee will discuss the situation when it meets at Nelson Town Hall on Monday at 5pm.