'A significant milestone' – Work set to start on Burnley's Pioneer Place development as council green lights scheme

Burnley Council’s development control committee approved proposals for a scaled down version of a previously agreed development on the former Pioneer supermarket site in Curzon Street.

Developers Maple Grove secured planning permission last year for a scheme anchored by an eight-screen Reel cinema with nine retail and leisure units, plus a 125-space car park.

Last month Maple Grove, due to changing market conditions, submitted a new application for a seven-screen cinema and five retail and leisure units, with a total of 226 parking spaces.

Kate Ingram, the council’s strategic head of economy and growth, said: “This is a significant milestone in bringing forward this key project in our Town Centre Masterplan.

“All the project partners have worked hard over the last year to bring forward a scheme that reflects the current market but delivers a well-designed town centre cinema and leisure development, with scope for future expansion. Maple Grove are working towards a start on site this summer”.

A report to the planning committee said that under the new plans the cinema would face into the rest of the development with a public square in the centre of the scheme which could be used for events through the year.

Work to prepare the site for construction could begin in the summer with the revised scheme being completed by spring 2023.

It is estimated the construction of the development would support around 180 jobs, with a further 100-plus new jobs being created in the cinema and supporting food outlets.

The scheme has already secured funding from Burnley borough and Lancashire county councils, and the Building Better Fund administered by Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.