AN expected start date for a major shopping complex in Burnley has been put back for at least a year, it has been revealed.

Work had been expected to start this autumn on the Curzon Street centre which would bring Primark to town.

But a senior Labour councillor has criticised town hall chiefs, saying an anticipated delay for the scheme had been ‘buried’ in the council’s accounts.

Extra income is expected from the former Pioneer site car park because work is not expected to begin until 2012-13.

Coun Mark Townsend said: “This is bad news that there will once again be a delay for this scheme. Who knows when this will ever be built?”

He also blasted Coun Roger Frost, executive member for regeneration, as no mention had been made of the Curzon Street hold-up in his full council report.

But Coun Frost said he had been ‘quite open’ about the state of play with the shopping centre, which is being promoted in partnership with Manchester-based Henry Boot Developments.

He added: “We must realise that we are in the middle of one of the worst economic crises that we have had for some time and that is behind the effect on this development.”

Blame could be laid at the door of national government or banking mismanagement but it was not the council’s fault, said Coun Frost.

Every effort was being made to get the scheme ‘off the ground’, added Coun Frost, who said he resented any implication that the announcement had been ‘hidden’.

Planning permission was given for the Curzon Street centre, which could create up to 400 jobs, last April, after several years of debate.