On the 4th attempt in 20 years to regenerate the centre of Clitheroe, Ribble Valley Borough  Council approved a decision of its Policy and Finance Committee to progress the Clitheroe Market Quarter Development with Barnfield Construction the approved tenderers.

The motion authorises the Council to approve  ''the scheme as now proposed in principle'' for it to move on to the next stage, negotiate a contract, financial appraisal of the scheme design and publicise the scheme as it develops.  

This decision has been carefully thought out and follows the approval of a tender from Barnfield Developments in November 2015. The developers are providing investment estimated to be £9 million to redevelop the centre of Clitheroe.

The debate took place in camera due to advice from the officers as a lot of the matters under consideration were commercially sensitive. The design which is the property of Barnfield   could  be subject to detailed alteration. In addition the negotations of the final design and next steps in the process with Barnfield should take place in private and the Council  wish to keep confidential their negotiating position .

Meetings will take place with interested parties particularly the market traders and Chamber of Trade in the near future to explain the outline of the design and the process proposed. Barnfield will be asked to produce detailed drawings of their proposal which, once agreed, will form part of informing the public on the design of the project. 

The outline design has been arrived at by consulting widely with in the public and interested groups. This is not the final decision which will be taken following finalising the negotiations with Barnfield.