AMBITIOUS plans to transform Rishton’s canalside into a thriving hub of homes and businesses will be shown off to the public later this month.

Designers have drawn up multi-million pound plans for the stretch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal running from the end of Bridge Street to the high street.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Councillors in the town are now in the process of leafleting both residents and businesspeople to invite them to a consultation, to be held at the town’s Conservative Club, in Cliff Street,from 2.30pm until 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 25.

Housing and regeneration boss at Hyndburn Council, Councillor Clare Cleary, said: “Some design consultants are doing special planning documents, and we are looking at five sites along the canal.

“This will be a public day so people can come and put their ideas forward. It is an initial ideas day and we are inviting everybody really.”

Cllr Cleary said both leisure, retail, and privately-owned and rented homes could all be on the cards.

But one hiccup is the call for more social housing, which Cllr Cleary said the council does not want more of.

She said: “The problem is, at the moment, the housing people want to build is social housing, but we have enough of that and we want to attract different types, such as leisure and retails, etc.

“The potential is there but we need to consult with the public.”

Leader of Hyndburn Council and county councillor for Rishton, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said: “This is extremely positive news.

“We want participation from residents but this is long overdue.

“This brownfield site has been a problem for some time, and we are trying to put in place a development brief that residents support.”

One of the key issues in the redevelopment project will be the derelict and demolished Britannia Mill site at the end of Bridge Street.

The Leeds Liverpool Canal will be 200 years old next year.