Plans have been approved for a £2 million redevelopment project in Accrington.

Designed by IBI Group, the scheme involves transforming the town's historic Town Square to create simple, high quality flexible space.

The plans were developed in collaboration with graphic design consultancy Smiling Wolf and engineers Mott MacDonald. The project is being delivered in honour of World War 1 battalion, The Accrington Pals, who suffered heavy losses on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Features include installing six bespoke benches comprising a horizontal wooden seating piece, supported by granite pieces containing text and images depicting Accrington's heritage.

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The plans also include developing small sculptural pieces on each bench, while permitting the listed Town Hall and Market Hall to remain dominant features of the historic Square.

Ben Riley, Senior Landscape Architect at IBI Group said: "At the heart of the design is a narrative based on local heroes, The Accrington Pals. We are very proud to have worked with Hyndburn Borough Council and the local residents to realise their vision and create a lasting memorial interwoven into Town Square's landscape."

Cllr Clare Cleary added: "It has been good to see so many local stakeholders debating and influencing the development of the designs including the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, the Accrington Town Team, the Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, the Accrington PALs Working Group, and many others including residents. We are also very pleased with the creative ideas for promoting Accrington's heritage, and I can't wait for the opening next summer."

Work on the project, which is partially funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is due to start on site in May.

(LM/MH)