A MAJOR Rossendale development company has re-submitted £40million plans to regenerate Rawtenstall town centre.

But this time the Hurstwood Group has reluctantly reduced the amount of retail space by more than a third.

The original plan was submitted in February but was controversially turned down by Rossendale Borough Council in July.

Hurstwood Group chairman Stephen J Ashworth said the new-look plan would bring a host of benefits including 1,000 new jobs, £40million in new investment and a host of new business and leisure opportunities.

He said the major difference this time was that there was significantly less retail space at the request of planners at Rossendale Council.

He said: "We believe this plan will help traders in the town by giving local people more reasons for shopping and spending their leisure time here.

"It will also help attract more visitors to Rawtenstall by giving them reasons to visit the town.

"It has the backing of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and the Rawtenstall Chamber of Commerce.

"But, just as importantly, we have been given a tremendous amount of support from the general public. They have made it clear to us that they want this to happen.

"As a Rossendale man, I honestly believe this plan would do nothing but good for the town.

"We need business investment, we need new jobs, we need more leisure facilities."

Under the new plan Hurstwood proposes to develop New Hall Hey with 5,133 sq m of offices; 9,932 sq m of commercial workshops; 3,995 sq m would be dedicated to one large retailer and 7,665 sq m would be allocated to various leisure activities.

The Heritage Arcade in Bacup Road would be redeveloped into restaurants and bar, Wesley House, also in Bacup Road, is planned for leisure use and the The Discharged and Demobilised Sailors' and Soldiers' Club earmarked for health and medical facilities.

Mr Ashworth added: "The only retail space across the entire proposals is for 3,995 sq m of retail space on New Hall Hey which we have earmarked for a national DIY store and talks have progressed well.

"This company needs a large floor space because of the nature of its business and so would not be appropriate at any other location in the town.

"Having an element of retail is crucial to the success of the plans for redeveloping New Hall Hey because it would make the rest of the site financially viable.

"Without the DIY store there the rest of the plan would be very difficult to deliver.

"It would fit perfectly with the aims of the recently announced master plan -- indeed it would kick-start the plan rather than leave it to go dusty in some unknown planner's office."