A PLAN to shape the future development of Great Harwood town centre has been revived, it has been announced.

Campaigners wanting to see large parts of the town centre designated as a conservation area had been frustrated by more than two years of delays.

But bosses said that the scheme would now go ahead, with plans to include the main shopping stretch of Queen Street as well as St Bartholomew’s Church, Church-field House and The Mercer baths.

And there are moves to ensure developers contribute to the town when they are given planning permission for schemes in the area.

Currently just the historic Town Gate area at the former town hall is classed as a conservation area but community leaders said that it was vital to protect other parts of the centre.

Coun Peter Clarke said in addition a project for the redevelopment of Town Gate, which looked to be off after the Pennine Reach bus lane scheme was scrapped, could be back on the cards.

He said: “The advantage of extending the conservation area is that it means that only developments of the highest standard can be completed.

“It is ideal in the shopping areas because we can protect the town from looking scruffy and really improve things for residents and visitors.”

The conservation area project had been handled by a consultancy agency but after council bosses insisted that they were not happy with their findings, they have been able to draw up their own plans.

The project will now go out to consultation in the coming weeks.

Coun Clarke added he wanted to ensure that the Town Gate work went ahead.

He said: “It is not fit for purpose and the development is vital to Great Harwood.

“I want to ensure that any money from developers for future schemes in the town is put in a pot for Town Gate.”