Long-standing plans to redevelop the ‘gateway’ to Church and Oswaldtwistle have been given a major boost after the council agreed to appoint a new development partner.
Chilton (Accrington) Limited and Skyes International Trading Limited have been chosen by the council to promote the selling off of the land and attract development bids for the site near to the derelict Commercial Hotel.
The land was part of the council’s former Housing Market Renewal Area, known as the Church Canal Gateway Project, and Enza Property Group was appointed as the council’s original lead development partner.
They prepared a ‘masterplan’ approved in 2008. However, the council terminated its arrangement with Enza in February 2014.
Councillors have given their backing to dispose of the land and to negotiate on ‘the best consideration for the area’.
However Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said he was very ‘cynical’ of the plans.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting last week he said: “This land has been looking to be redeveloped for over 30 years now.
“The area itself is disgraceful and an eyesore. I am ashamed of taking people into Oswaldtwistle via that route.
“I shrug my shoulders and wonder how realistic is this? Is it just pie in the sky that this land will be redeveloped as there
are so many restrictions on it?
“Why don’t we just landscape it and do something with it. It is an absolute abomination. Regrettably it is the main route into Church and Oswaldtwistle.”
Coun Britcliffe also fears developers will not be attracted to the site because of its location.
He said: “There are some listed buildings, it is also so close to Blythe’s that you can’t build houses.
“I can’t see anybody buying this development now. They didn’t buy it during the good times so to me it’s crazy to think at this time it’s going to be developed.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson said the ‘proof will be in the pudding’ and that it was a ‘positive’ step forward for the area.
He told the meeting: “The positive thing for the borough is that this has come forward.”
