Pendle Borough Council
Market Street, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661661 Fax: 01282 661130
Pendle Town Centres - Something for everyone
The Borough of Pendle is home to three town centres; Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick, and three local centres; Barrowford, Brierfield, and Earby. Each town is noted for its individuality and is characterised by an array of regional, local and specialist businesses which offer the customer everything from designer footwear, excellent restaurants to local crafts and produce. In addition each centre offers a range of commercial, leisure, and tourism products, services, and attractions and in all of Pendle's centres parking is free and plentiful. All of the centres are surrounded by stunning countryside with many offering fantastic views to the famous Pendle Hill.
Pendle Borough Council's aim in relation to the regeneration of its town and local centres is:
"To create vitality and viability within the Borough's town centres by creating a wide range of shops and services, a safe and attractive environment, and easy access for all. Vibrant town centres will support the local economy, attract local people, visitors, and new business and from the basis of civic pride"
Nelson
Nelson is the main centre of the Borough, has an urban population of 30,000 with over 1 million people living within a 30 minute drive, and benefits from excellent access to the national motorway network. The town centre hosts a good range of local specialist retailers, major high street names such as Argos and Woolworths, a vibrant indoor and outdoor market, and a strong professional and financial services sector. 'Pendle Rise' is the town's 138,000 sq ft shopping centre which has just undergone a £2.5 million facelift and extension. Over the next few years there will be a programme of investment, totalling over £20 million, which will breathe new life into the central area. Planned developments/activity includes:
- A new transport interchange
- Purpose built mixed use business centre
- Improvements to the physical fabric of the town centre
- Inclusion in 'Elevate' - the East Lancashire Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Programme
- New Primary Care Trust medial centre
- Acquisition and development of vacant properties throughout the town centre
- Development of a cohesive, forward thinking strategy for the central area
Colne
Colne is a market town well known for its individualistic speciality shops and farmers market. It has a thriving evening economy with an excellent variety of eating establishments ranging from vegetarian to Greek. Colne plays host to the world famous Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival every August Bank Holiday weekend with the event attracting audiences from around the globe. More recently, Colne entered the North West in Bloom competition which combines civic floral displays, community environment projects and recycling initiatives and was awarded second runner up in the best large town category. The town centre will see further improvements particularly due to its inclusion in both the Market Town and the Elevate Housing Market Renewal programmes.
Under the Market Town Initiative, an Action Plan has been developed for Colne and the surrounding hinterland. A copy of the Colne Action Plan is available as a pdf document for you to download.
Barnoldswick
A picturesque historic market town, Barnoldswick or 'Barlick' is noted for its individuality and characterised by an array of local and speciality shops which centre around a unique town square which is surrounded by attractive flower beds and good seating areas. The town centre is steeped in history and services the needs of both locals and visitors and is also a popular tourist destination. The town centre is to see further improvements due to the town's inclusion in the Market Town Initiative Regeneration programme.
Barrowford
Barrowford has a fabulous range of speciality shops which include designer wear, wines, shoes, foods and children's clothes. The centre has developed a unique atmosphere with many 'destination' retailers.
Brierfield
Brierfield is a small bustling town close to the canal with an array of independent speciality shops and the town centre has benefited from a series of improvements to the physical fabric of the town centre.
Earby
Earby has a range of excellent small businesses which serve the local population with a sprinkling of niche market businesses which attract people who make specific journeys to visit these businesses.
Pendle's town centre initiative is based on a partnership approach to ensure successful regeneration of its town centres. Most of the towns have their own 'Town Centre Partnerships' which act as a vehicle to positively engage a range of stakeholders in improving the town centres.
Some of the priorities for the town centres team include:
- Securing funding for initiatives
- Inward investment
- Partnership development
- Project development and management
- Adopting a strategic approach
- Working with town centre stakeholders, particularly the private sector
- Marketing and promotion
- Town centre premise improvement grants
- Improvements to the physical fabric of the town centres
To receive advice, assistance or information about Town Centres from the Regeneration Unit, please complete our Regeneration Online Enquiry Form.
For more information on Pendle's town centres or the work of the town centres team contact the Regeneration Unit on, or e-mail town.centres@pendle.gov.uk
