Five of 17 units taken so far

BOSSES say the next stage of Rawtenstall’s multimillion pound redevelopment won’t begin until retailers are signed up.

Coun Andy MacNae, Rossendale council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said construction on 17 new units planned as part of phase two of the £5.4million Spinning Point development would not go ahead until traders had signed up.

He said initial commitment has so far been received for five of the proposed 17 units, which are to be built off Kay Street and on the town square.

It had been anticipated that work would get underway following the completion of the new bus station next autumn.

Coun Andy MacNae said: “The finish date has never been a fixed point.

“The idea was to start from phase one straight to phase two but the priority has been getting that mix right and we can’t start to ●● A graphic showing where the new retail and food units could be built after work on the bus station is completed build until that’s there. We don’t build the units unless we have the occupants.

“Right from the beginning we have had people approach us over this project.

“It’s now just turning that interest into nailed down agreements that’s where it can take hard work and a bit of time.

“We are very, very confident that there is lots of business interest coming in. You don’t build specu- latively. Rawtenstall very much on the up.

“What won’t happen there would be a whole bunch of units that will be standing empty.”

Coun MacNae added that the second phase aims to transform the town centre into a vibrant day and nighttime economy, with shops and restaurants, hotel and a cinema, and interest from independent businesses would be prioritised if they came up against is national franchises for the same space.

He said: “The core vision is that mix of shops, some restaurants and bars, some leisure uses such as a cinema, hotel, and spa - gym, and keeping a lot of public space in the town square.

“Where it has active frontages, restaurants and cafes go into the square and create that kind of day and night economy to draw people in.

“Independents are the unique offer and that’s what we want to see predominantly. When there is more demand than space, certainly we would want to be supporting local businesses and that would definitely be taken into account.

“A couple of national brands might also help that there, but only if it doesn’t muscle out that local offer. For instance, Pizza Express, which is a name that’s been suggested, would add to the amenity.”