Nostalgic 60s shopping centre set to be DEMOLISHED to make way for new retail complex and car park for over 150 motors
AN ICONIC 60s shopping centre is to be demolished to make way for a new retail centre and car park for more than 150 vehicles.
It comes as Pendle Borough Council aims to revitalise the Lancashire town of Nelson after receiving £25 million of government funding.
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One of the council's projects is the demolition and rebuilding of nostalgic shopping centre Pendle Rise in the town.
But a row is brewing after reports several retailers are still trading in in the centre, which is due to for demolition later this year.
Demolition work is due to be completed by March 2026, with building work on the new centre due to start shortly after.
Richard Savory, a consultant from the RAISE Partnership, which is overseeing the project, sought to reassure the Nelson Town Deal board at its latest meeting.
The town board includes property-linked businesses involved commercially with the projects, a small number of elected councillors, private businesses and voluntary sector representatives.
This is required under town deal rules.
Mr Savory said some key phases of the compulsory purchase order process to buy it had been completed.
Issues were raised by Specsavers, regarding finding an alternative shop, and Lancashire County Council, he said, but these had been resolved.
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Specsavers was accused of "lacking vision" but is now due to move to a shop on Manchester Road, Lancs Live reported.
Mr Savory said: "We still expect to be on-site at Pendle Rise in October, with five months to demolish.
"Once the strip-out including asbestos is done, it will be about six weeks to bring the shell down. It's a tight deadline but achievable."
'We can turf them out if we need to'
He added: "Before we can demolish, we have to vacate it. But that won't be problem because all the powers will rest with Pendle Council. All people will have to leave.
"We anticipate that all businesses there will be gone by then. But if need be, we can turf them out on November 3.
"We will write to the five remaining retailers who have not yet reached a relocation deal. But we are running out of time to do walk-away offers."
At the meeting, David Rothwell, deputy principal of Nelson and Colne College, asked what the implications were if the deadline was not met.
Mr Savory replied: "We're in regular talks with the government ministry.
"I think it accepts some projects may finish between 2026 and 2027.
"We send monitoring updates and there will be one in September. We'll have a much clearer view by then."
Lib-Dem Councillor David Whipp, the new leader of Pendle Council, said: "Can I thank everybody involved with resolving these things.
"It was quite bizarre that Lancashire County Council was objecting. And Specsavers seemed to lack vision and be very short-sighted with this. But the objections have been withdrawn.
"Vacating Pendle Rise and getting it demolished is a key project. It cannot be delayed. "
Conservative Coun Nadeem Ahmed added: "The public want to see action. I know there's a of work involved but I think people are asking when is this going to happen? They want to see work. "
Independent Coun Asjad Mahmood, the deputy council leader, said: "The legal requirement to give notice to shops is three months. But we are giving them four months.
"We've made good progress with the CPO and this scheme will have lasting benefits for the community."
Demolition day
Pendle Rise is just one nostalgic shopping centre in the UK that is past its sell-by date.
The Grafton Centre in Cambridge is also set to be demolished after years of decline.
As we reported recently, it housed just 11 retailers after years of neglect.
Built in 1983, the shopping hub has undergone significant changes in the 40 years since it was built.
An expansion took place in the 1990s, in addition to a recent refurbishment in 2017.
Despite attempts to revive the struggling centre, Cambridge City Council approved plans to partially demolish the building in February 2024.
Led by the Pioneer Group, the demolished site will be replaced by science laboratories, plus a hotel and a gym.
It hopes to be a more productive use of the space, as the shopping centre had become run down with lots of empty units.
Over the last few years retailers like Debenhams, River Island and New Look all closed down their Grafton-Centre sites, leaving it feeling increasingly empty.
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