A NEW commercial agent has been appointed to manage Nelson's shopping centre.

Pendle Rise shopping centre was placed in the hands of receivers CB Richard Ellis at the end of last year.

According to the borough’s regeneration boss, the firm has moved to appoint a new commercial agent to manage the facility.

Pendle Council’s executive director for regeneration, Brian Cookson, said he was set to meet representatives of CB Richard Ellis to discuss their plans for the centre.

He said: “We understand that the receivers have appointed new commercial agents, which is a very positive development for Pendle Rise.

“We’ll continue to explore the possibility of future joint working with the new agents.”

Shopkeepers said they hoped the move would aid progress in introducing extra safety measures on the centre’s car park, which has been dubbed a suicide ‘hot spot’.

Seven people have plunged to their deaths from the top level of the multi-storey building in less than 10 years.