After a sixteen-year journey, construction on the £23 million Pioneer Place development in Burnley is set to begin on January 24th. This project, spearheaded by Maple Grove Developments in partnership with Burnley Council, aims to revitalise the town centre with a seven-screen REEL cinema and five retail and leisure units.

The Curzon Street/Pioneer Place car park site has long been envisioned as a prime location for retail and leisure activities, but previous attempts to develop it have faced challenges. Henry Boot Developments’ earlier plans for a £60 million project stalled due to a lack of retailer interest.

Maple Grove stepped in and secured planning permission in 2020 for a leisure-focused development. While initial plans were scaled back due to changing market conditions, the project has garnered significant support from the local community and businesses.

The REEL cinema will relocate from its current location on Manchester Road, and a new Lidl supermarket will be built on the former cinema site.

Nik Puttnam, senior development manager at Maple Grove Developments, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s progress and the partnership with Burnley Council. He emphasised the development’s potential to diversify the town’s evening economy, attract new visitors, and support the growth of the nearby UCLan campus.

Burnley Council leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar also celebrated the project’s start, highlighting its positive impact on the town centre and local economy. Pioneer Place is expected to bring new life to the area, creating jobs and boosting visitor numbers.

The journey of Pioneer Place highlights the complexities of navigating large-scale development projects. But with expert planning guidance and unwavering determination, even long-held aspirations can become a reality. At Smith & Love Planning Consultants, we offer a wealth of experience and a proven track record of helping clients achieve their development goals.

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