In spite of HS2 being scrapped, both Blackburn and Darwen are set for a development boom.
In Blackburn the funds in the region of £20 million will be used to accelerate the first phase of the Council’s £250 million Masterplan for Blackburn town centre which is working with Maple Grove Developments of Preston. In the town centre this will take the form of an Innovation District with a proposed skills and education campus.
The second phase of funds is to be allocated to transport infrastructure improvements to the south of Blackburn, including upgrading Junction 5 of the M65 motorway.
Both projects are closely linked to the Council’s Blackburn growth access plans, which links to the nearby Samlesbury Enterprise Zone soon to be home to the new National Cyber Force headquarters.
In Darwen, where the Darwen Town Deal will see the delivery of a new manufacturing and research centre by Sheffield University with, in addition, a new £40 million national manufacturing centre for Perspex International.
In addition, the market hall and library will be refurbished and new town centre living opportunities unlocked, boosting the vitality of the centre from day through to night.