Pendle Borough Council has purchased the 1960s-built Pendle Rise Shopping Centre in Nelson town centre for an undisclosed price.
The council bought the centre using Nelson Town Deal funding as part of its wider plans to revitalise the town.
In 2022, a joint venture was launched with Penbrook – a partnership between Pendle Borough Council and Brookhouse – to oversee the redevelopment of the centre and planning consent was granted in 2023 to deliver a new food store, nine modern retail units, car parking and landscaping.
The council has appointed Beddows to run the centre pending its demolition and will be helping the centre’s tenants to relocate to new premises in the town.
Rose Rouse, chief executive of Pendle Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted we now own Pendle Rise – it’s key to our redevelopment of Nelson town centre. This means we can radically improve the town with high quality architecture and landscape design. Along with a much stronger retail offer for Pendle people it will provide a great place for our community to meet.”
Phillip Spurr, Pendle Borough Council’s director of place, added: “The vision to re-develop Pendle Rise Shopping Centre site stems from extensive public consultation carried out as part of the Nelson Masterplan. Most people who gave their views wanted to see Pendle Rise tackled as a priority.”
