Blackburn’s Town Centre Aiming High

Business leaders are hoping to put Blackburn on the map after putting the town centre forward for a national award and cash prize.

Blackburn’s Business Improvement District and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council hope that the town’s shopping and leisure areas will be shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street competition under ‘Town Centre of the Year’.

The competition, which is now in its third year, is designed to help revitalise high streets by promoting the great work that is being done and sharing good ideas across the country.

Cllr Phil Riley, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Recent years have seen an extraordinary transformation in the town centre of Blackburn – hardly a day goes by without someone telling me that the appearance has changed so much, they can’t believe they are in Blackburn.

This transformation has not come about through luck. It is the result of a hugely impressive partnership between key players all dedicated to working to provide a changed experience for everyone who works, trades, shops and lives in the town. The good news is that this work is going carry on as that change continues.”

Blackburn town centre has undergone a multi-million-pound regeneration project in recent years including the £30 million Cathedral Quarter Development, a £66 million redevelopment of The Mall shopping centre and a £40 million transport improvement project providing a modern new bus station in heart of the town centre.

Manager of the Blackburn BID, Harriet Roberts put the town’s high street forward for the award. She said:

Blackburn deserves to win a Great British High Street Award for earning its place in the Northern Power House with aspiring partnerships in a town centre that’s continuing to go places.”

Shoppers can show their support by using the #GBHighSt on social media and judges will announce the winners in October 2016.