Burnley makes fresh attempt at Curzon Street leisure project

Burnley Council has launched the procurement process to find a development partner to bring forward an £18m retail and leisure scheme on Curzon Street in the town centre.

The 3.7-acre site is currently used as a car park and was previously occupied by a Co-op supermarket. The land is between Addington Capital’s 365,000 sq ft Charter Walk Shopping Centre, and Burnley College and UCLan facilities.

The council is envisioning a mixed-use redevelopment, bringing in a cinema, family-orientated leisure uses, and restaurant chains into the town centre, alongside retail.

A nearby former open market and old Studio 123 cinema complex is due to be demolished next year, which the council said will “significantly improve the visual aspect and townscape at this key location”.

The contract value is estimated at between £12m and £18m in value.

A £40m shopping centre development at Curzon Street was previously planned with developer Henry Boot, however the scheme was dropped in 2012 after there was not enough retailer interest to fully occupy the units. In 2014, a planning application was expected from Terrace Hill, now Urban & Civic, for a cinema on the plot, which didn’t materialise.

In the latest tender notice, the council describes its aim for “a leisure and retail development which makes a significant contribution to a vibrant entertainment and cultural offer in Burnley town centre. This will be a high-quality scheme that makes an architectural statement and is consistent with the council’s Local Plan.”

The council estimates the end value to be in the range of £12m to £18m.

The deadline for receipt of tenders is midday on 3 July.