Big development approved at major Blackburn town centre gateway

The Council has approved a major development proposal for a new petrol station complex.

It will include a restaurant, coffee shop, commercial units for business and storage with trade counters  on the site on Whalley New Road.

The site will bring a new jobs to the borough and bring the disused site back into productive use.

It is the site of the former East Lancashire Coachbuilders, and has been vacant and derelict for a number of years along an important gateway into the town centre.

The first phase will include a restaurant, trade counters and light industrial and storage units. The second phase will see a petrol station, convenience store and coffee shop..

The site will be developed by Oaklands London Property LTD property developers.

The new building will be set on three levels and will be a modern development that is sympathetic to other developments in the area, introducing a modern striking building on Whalley New Road.

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

This is a much needed development on a site that has been derelict for some time, and it will create a significant number of jobs for people in the borough.

It will also play a big part in the regeneration of the local area around Whalley New Road which is a major gateway into Blackburn and the town centre. The plans and designs look really impressive and I am looking forward to the development starting.”

Rafiq Mogra at Areeba Architecture Ltd which is overseeing the design, said:

We are excited to be part of this prominent project which will see the regeneration of this section of Whalley New Road.

Our design focus has been on creating an active frontage along this busy road which can be enjoyed by everyone and will offer new business and employment opportunities.”

Cllr Hussain Akhtar, Ward Councillor for Shear Brow and Corporation Park, said:

I’m really pleased that a development is now planned for this site. Local residents have got used to looking at an overgrown piece of land and they will be very excited to see work start here.”