THE future of some of Darwen town centre's oldest buildings has been secured as part of a massive programme of improvement work.

Regeneration bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council were today celebrating the announcement that the Heritage Lottery Fund had effectively approved their bid for £1million.

The council said the money would, hopefully, be part of a £4million scheme to improve key buildings in the town, including the former technical college in Knott Street which has been empty for a number of years.

The bid was submitted in June by the council on behalf of the Darwen Town Centre Partnership. Other areas earmarked for work include Railway Road, Knott Street, Bridge Street and the Belgrave Square/Bolton Road part of the Town Centre Conservation Area.

As part of the funding package, the Heritage Lottery Fund grant needs to be matched pound for pound and the council is now exploring other sources of regeneration funding to make up the extra £1 million needed to secure the grant.

Discussions with the North West Development Agency are currently under way and the additional £2million is expected to come from private investment.

Coun Andy Kay, chairman of Darwen Town Centre Partnership and executive member for regeneration said: "This is a really positive start for the work of the new partnership with some real tangible benefits already starting to develop from working together. We must now work hard to secure the match funding."

The bid is focused on works to key buildings, including the Technical College, the Central Methodist Chapel in Railway Road, Belgrave Tram Shelters, the former Lloyds Bank building in Croft Street and the former club premises in Church Street.

It also includes environmental improvements, including re-paving and installing street furniture, in areas such as Railway Road. Now that approval has been given, the scheme needs to be developed in much greater detail by October 2004 but the council is hoping it will be done by spring next year.

The HLF has agreed to offer grant assistance towards the cost of producing this detailed plan and a team of specialist consultants will be appointed by the partnership to produce this within the next six months.

This will then need to be agreed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding partners before work can start on the scheme.

Coun Kay said: "As long as everything goes to plan, we will aim to start work towards the end of 2004."

Adam Scott, director of regeneration, housing and neighbourhoods, said: "This funding is aimed at securing the future of the best Victorian buildings around the town centre."

Margaret Bysh, a Darwen Civic Society committee member and member of the Darwen Town Centre Partnership, said: "It is very good news. It will update buildings especially in the town centre and in the Church Street area."