AN East Lancashire town is in line for a major transformation after being awarded a £2million cash boost.

Around 51 buildings in Bacup town centre will receive a facelift after a Heritage Lottery Fund bid was successful.

The grant has been awarded through HLF’s Townscape Heritage Initiative programme.

Council Leader Alyson Barnes said: “This is more good news for Rossendale and particularly for Bacup.

“The Heritage Lottery Fund supported project will breathe new life into the town centre and comes on the back of a lot of hard work and determination from both the council and the THI Partnership Board.”

The Bacup Townscape Heritage Initiative will provide £2million of investment funding to improve the frontages of key town centre buildings which will form part of a ‘hit list’ developed by the THI Board. The buildings represent the key streetscape of the programme, together with public realm improvements in St James Square.

Coun Andy MacNae, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, and chair of the Bacup THI Partnership Board, said: “The THI funding will provide a five year funding programme focussed in Bacup town centre.

“The THI Board realises that it won’t be a ‘quick fix’ but are confident that the sustained investment, coupled with the expertise and enthusiasm of the board, will bring about a revitalisation of the town centre and a well-deserved boost to the local economy.”

Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Today’s (weds) HLF investment goes well beyond the bricks and mortar of the buildings themselves.

“THI schemes can really help turn local economies around, not only making them nicer places to live, but by prompting business start-ups and creating new jobs and training opportunities.

“We are delighted to be able to work with Rossendale Borough Council in helping to boost the fortunes of Bacup.”