Million pound funding boost for Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen Council has received millions of pounds of government funding to improve its road infrastructure.

The Local Growth Funding was announced as part of a Growth Deal awarded to Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

In total the county received £69.8 million for projects across Lancashire that include the South Lancaster Housing Growth Initiative and a 21st Century Conference Centre & Hotel Offer for Blackpool.

The allocation for Blackburn with Darwen will go towards the Pennine Gateways project that will deliver key improvements at three of the main gateways into Blackburn off the M65 at junctions 4, 5 and 6.

The investment is intended to contribute to economic growth by releasing the potential of a number of strategic sites near the junctions that will help to attract new developers and accelerate projects that are already planned.

The work to bring forward new housing and commercial development will also help the borough to meet its Local Plan and Prosperity Plan targets for new homes, new businesses and jobs.

Infrastructure plans include further proposed improvements to reduce congestion on Haslingden Road and a new link road constructed at Blackamoor Junction adjacent to Fishmoor Drive.

Not only will the project encourage development of adjacent sites for commercial businesses but it will also help improve air quality for residents who live near to the Blackamoor Junction.

In addition, the plans will free up land to create around 900 new homes and improve accessibility for both businesses and residents.

Other projects include infrastructure improvements adjacent to M65 Junction 6 to complete the Pennine Reach link road at Burnley Road and create a spur from this road over the Leeds / Liverpool Canal to improve access to employment sites.

Executive member for Regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley said:

This investment is great news and will mean we can continue to build on the work that has already been done improving our road network. This is vital to deliver our key aims of boosting opportunities for employment and building more houses to boost the local economy and improve quality of life for residents.”

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, said:

This is excellent news. The funding will make a significant difference to our ability to put in place better infrastructure and is testament to what can be achieved with Lancashire partners work together to achieve a common goal.”