Business confidence high in Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen is undergoing a period of significant investment which is strengthening the borough’s position in the North West economy.

That was the message from Tom Flanagan, the Council’s Executive Director of Place, speaking at North West Insider magazine’s ‘Invest in East Lancashire’ business breakfast (#investeastlancs).

The event was attended by business leaders from across the East Lancashire sub-region, who came to hear how the area is thriving as home to some of the UK’s most successful and fastest-growing companies, including Blackburn-based Graham & Brown, Accrol Papers, and Darwen-based Crown Paints.

Tom said:

“Completion of the £30m flagship Cathedral Quarter development, the Government backed £40m Pennine Reach transport scheme and £750k funding to create a Fab Lab 3D printing hub within the Making Rooms in Blackburn town centre are among the innovative developments that are transforming the borough and opening up new business opportunities.

“We’ve had a very high level of interest from developers and investors in the Cathedral Quarter development and there have been large scale investments in Blackburn businesses including Promethean and Euro Garages.

“Given the quality of the office and commercial accommodation we are now supplying, we are also getting strong interest from professional companies who would like to keep their city connections but are looking to step away from the high prices and high congestion you get in cities.”