GIANT redwood trees, which form part of the Forest of Burnley, are set to be moved as part of a gateaway development.

Land opposite the new Burnley College and UCLan campus is set to be transformed as the new £1million Princess Way public realm scheme is created.

But first three looming redwoods, planted in 1998 as part of an ‘urban arboteum’, must be relocated to a new home in Thursby Gardens.

Known by botanists as sequoiadendrom giganteum, the native Californian specimens can top 300 feet and can live for 2,000 years.

The Burnley trees are currently only 15 to 18 feet tall but will still require specialist handling by aboriculturalists.

Roadblocks will be put in place while the work is carried out and specialists transplant the trees next Wednesday night to minimise disruption.

Simon Goff, the borough council’s green spaces head, said: “These redwood trees are still relatively young and we are confident that, with careful transplanting and regular maintenance, the trees will flourish in their new home.”

Major upheaval is expected in and around Princess Way with the planned education and enterprise park, behind the college campus, and the long-awaited arrival of the Curzon Street shopping development.

Under the gateway proposals, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, new sculptures, paving, lighting and landscaping will be installed, also taking in parts of Active Way and Canning Street.

Work is expected to last 18 weeks and some traffic disruption is expected.

Cash generated by a planning agreement with Homebase, over their nearby new store, and contributions from eco-transport group Sustrans and Burnley College have also made the scheme a reality.