Pendle News Room

The Council is proposing to demolish the building to create new retail premises on the ground floor, with two floors of town centre living accommodation above.

The design seeks to replicate the style of surrounding buildings and the architectural qualities of the area.

The former health centre closed in May 2014 when the facility moved to a state-of-the-art building on Craddock Road.

Pendle Council bought it in January this year to ensure that the building, which is in the heart of Colne’s award winning high street, is developed in a way which meets the town’s needs.

Councillor Tony Greaves, Deputy Leader of Pendle Council who represents Waterside Ward of Colne, said: “In Colne demand for retail property is high and vacancy levels are well below the regional average and we believe there is a demand for more shopping space in the town centre.”

The building contains 47 rooms of various sizes and shapes and it would be difficult and costly to convert it for different commercial uses.

The consultation is running for two weeks from Monday 24 October until Saturday 5 November and the Council is urging people to have their say.

Information will be available in Colne Library and anyone interested can give feedback by completing a comments sheet.

Information will also be included on the Council’s website with an opportunity to comment at www.pendle.gov.uk

Councillor Greaves added: “We’re asking people to send in their views on the proposed use, the design of the new buildings and other matters relating to the site which includes Richmond Court.”

Unfortunately, the Council can’t give individual feedback on the comments received but all of the views will be taken into account when it decides on the final proposal which will be submitted for planning approval.