New chapter for Darwen’s historic library and theatre revealed
Published on Monday 31 March 2025 at 2:42 pm
A new planning application has been submitted setting out plans for major new investment in Darwen’s Library and Library Theatre.
Town centre & regeneration
Work starts on multi-million-pound transformation of Darwen Youth Centre
Published on Friday 28 March 2025 at 10:53 am
Work to demolish the existing Darwen Youth Centre building to pave the way for a multi-million-pound transformation is set to get underway.
Work set to start on major upgrades to paths through Darwen’s Sunnyhurst Woods
Published on Thursday 27 March 2025 at 5:42 pm
The main path through Darwen’s Sunnyhurst Woods is set to benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds of new investment as part of the £100m Darwen Town Deal.
Darwen’s ‘Wheel of fortune!
Published on Thursday 27 March 2025 at 11:59 am
When this giant wheel appeared in Darwen Market Square in February, it had us all in a spin!
Filed under: Darwen | Darwen Town Centre | wheel
Capital and culture: £20m boost for your favourite venues
Published on Wednesday 26 March 2025 at 9:28 am
Turn the pages of this edition of The Shuttle, and you’ll find it packed with stories celebrating culture.
Filed under: funding | King George's Hall
The Blackburn brothers bringing new brands to The Mall!
Published on Monday 24 March 2025 at 11:23 am
There are very few shopping centres in the country owned by a local family, but The Mall in Blackburn is one of them!
Filed under: Shuttle | Shuttle 2025 | The Mall
Out of this world!
Published on Thursday 20 March 2025 at 3:00 pm
From choral evensong to Pink Floyd by candlelight – Blackburn Cathedral may soon celebrate its 100th anniversary, but there’s absolutely no signs of things there slowing down.
Filed under: Blackburn Cathedral | moon | museum of the moon
Making Creativity Happen: The £1.5m vision to transform Blackburn’s already super-successful Making Rooms
Published on Monday 17 March 2025 at 11:09 am
The £1.5m vision to transform Blackburn’s already super-successful Making Rooms into the UK’s leading makerspace is as bold as its creators!
Filed under: Making Rooms | Shuttle 2025 | The Shuttle
New plans for Darwen Market Hall revealed
Published on Friday 14 March 2025 at 2:07 pm
A new planning application has been submitted detailing plans to transform Darwen Market Hall as part of the £100m Town Deal.
Culinary Revolution: From award-winning South Indian cuisine to reinvented street food fusion
Published on Friday 14 March 2025 at 8:46 am
Lancashire has a new foodie hotspot, and it’s right on your doorstep!
When people think of Lancashire’s top dining destinations, the Ribble Valley usually steals the spotlight.
Darwen – the town that has it all!
Published on Friday 14 March 2025 at 8:27 am
With Darwen featuring in a new list of places with the fastest-rising house prices, we speak to one estate agent who explains why it’s the place to buy.
Filed under: Darwen | Darwen Tower | Housing | Jubilee Tower | The Shuttle
King George’s Hall £9m refurb takes a step forward
Published on Thursday 13 March 2025 at 3:43 pm
A new planning application has been submitted for the final phase of the £9 million refurbishment of Blackburn’s King George’s Hall.
Filed under: KGH | King George's Hall
Emergency order to fell Darwen town centre tree
Published on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 10:33 am
Due to safety concerns, an emergency order has today been submitted to fell the large tree in front of Darwen Town Hall.
Blackburn with Darwen mums become first in the country to take part in pioneering digital data training
Published on Monday 10 March 2025 at 2:02 pm
Mums from across Blackburn with Darwen are the first in the country to take part in a pioneering data skills programme.
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery receives even bigger boost!
Published on Wednesday 5 March 2025 at 9:50 am
Blackburn Museum was one of the first purpose built free museums to open outside of London, in 1874.
Filed under: Art Gallery | Arts Council England | Blackburn | Blackburn Museum | Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery | Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery | British Library | council | Councillor | Councillor Quesir Mahmood | Culture | funding | Gallery | Hart Gallery | museum
Darwen Market car park – temporary closures
Published on Friday 14 February 2025 at 1:27 pm
Please note that the car parks at Darwen Market will be closed for periods between Monday, February 24th and Friday, February 28th.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025: 10th – 16th February 2025
Published on Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 3:57 pm
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is back for 2025, running from February 10th to 16th, and it’s set to be an exciting week-long celebration that brings together businesses, apprentices, and learners from all across the country.
Filed under: Apprentice | National Apprenticeship Week
Free family fun @ Blackburn Cyber Fest
Published on Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 5:06 pm
A free family fun cyber day is taking place on Saturday, February 8, at Blackburn College with lots of cyber and digital activities in collaboration with local community groups IMO and OneVoice.
Filed under: Blackburn | Blackburn College | cyber fest
Corporation Park Conservatory one step closer to full restoration
Published on Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 1:26 pm
A company has been appointed to undertake all necessary surveys on the popular park structure.
Back in March 2024 we told you that the Conservatory had been allocated almost £137,000 from the council and Historic England, through a ‘Repair to Heritage at Risk’.
Filed under: Buttress | conservatory | Corporation Park | Corporation Park Supporters Group | Councillor Jim Smith | Cycad | Historic England | Myerscough College
There’s plenty of family fun at the markets this February half term!
Published on Thursday 30 January 2025 at 12:19 pm
Looking to make memories with the family for free? Dive into our fabulous cultural programme on offer at Blackburn and Darwen Markets!
Filed under: Blackburn Market | council | Councillor Jim Smith | Culturapedia | Darwen Market | Family activities | family fun | Fun | half term | market
Brand-new digital Repair Space launched in Blackburn to help make e-waste a thing of the past!
Published on Wednesday 22 January 2025 at 11:31 am
A brand-new Repair Space has just launched at The Making Rooms in Blackburn, aiming to tackle e-waste and promote digital inclusion.
First-ever MEGA Scholarships launched in Blackburn with Darwen
Published on Friday 17 January 2025 at 11:42 am
Students in Blackburn with Darwen are set to be the first in the whole country to benefit from a pioneering new scholarship scheme in cyber and e-sports.
Plans revealed to ‘make’ Blackburn’s Making Rooms even bigger and better with £1.5m extension
Published on Monday 13 January 2025 at 12:06 pm
Plans that could transform Blackburn’s already super successful Making Rooms into the leading makerspace in the whole of the UK have been revealed.
Perspex International’s ambitious £40m expansion plans for Darwen site passed
Published on Friday 10 January 2025 at 12:51 pm
Plans to expand a Perspex International site in Darwen – part of almost £40m of new investment supported by the Town Deal – have been passed.
Discover Christmas nights out in Blackburn… here’s your handy guide!
Published on Friday 20 December 2024 at 12:12 pm
With a cool pop-up festive tavern, a winter wonderland tipi, a whole host of free live music, top places to eat and drink and so much more, here’s why Blackburn should be at the top of your Christmas list this year…A tribute to Darwen Market café owner Ste Fay
Published on Monday 16 December 2024 at 1:30 pm
It was announced over the weekend that Ste Fay, the owner of ‘Biscuit Barrel Café’, or ‘Ste’s Place’ as it’s more commonly known, has passed away.
Filed under: Biscuit Barrel Cafe | Cafe | Darwen | Darwen Market | market | Ste Fay | Ste's Place
Brand new bus routes launched in Blackburn
Published on Tuesday 10 December 2024 at 4:49 pm
Three new bus services will begin on Monday 16 December as part of a plan to encourage people to use public transport.
Filed under: Blackburn Bus Station | BSIP | bus | Bus Service Improvement Plan | buses | Councillor | Councillor Quesir Mahmood | Deputy Leader
Step into Christmas at Blackburn’s brand-new pop-up festive tavern!
Published on Friday 6 December 2024 at 3:56 pm
How about this for a fabulous Christmas surprise… Blackburn is set to get its own pop-up festive tavern, and it opens next week!
Blackburn’s Christmas line-up is hotting up with the return of The Firepit’s festive tipi!
Published on Thursday 5 December 2024 at 4:55 pm
The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on in Blackburn with the arrival of The Firepit’s festive tipi!
Council Leader responds to Patrick Grant’s “Blackburn Not Black Friday” message
Published on Friday 29 November 2024 at 1:05 pm
Yesterday, Patrick Grant, creator of Blackburn-based Community Clothing and BBC Sewing Bee presenter wrote a bold blog post, calling for shoppers to ‘Think Blackburn*, not Black Friday.’
Filed under: Blackburn | Darwen | Fashion designer Patrick Grant | Patrick Grant | Shopping
Blackburn Futures in Film cohort get in on the ‘action’ filming new BBC Wolf Hall drama
Published on Tuesday 26 November 2024 at 10:17 am
How about this for work experience! Impressively, a cohort of trainees from the Blackburn-based ‘Futures in Film Academy’ were invited to join the production team behind the brand-new and critically acclaimed, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light.
Storm Bert: Changes to Blackburn Christmas lights switch-on event
Published on Friday 22 November 2024 at 4:27 pm
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for much of the country throughout the day tomorrow with Storm Bert expected to bring high-speed winds of up to 60mph plus rain and the chance of snow.
Darwen dazzles once again with record-breaking Christmas lights switch-on!
Published on Monday 18 November 2024 at 11:58 am
Records were once again broken at Darwen’s Christmas lights switch-on with thousands of people turning out for the hugely popular event.
Blackburn’s Christmas is set to be ‘out of this world’ with £70K of new funding!
Published on Wednesday 13 November 2024 at 12:26 pm
More than £70,000 of extra funding is set to help make Blackburn’s Christmas ‘out of this world’ with a brand new ‘Festival of the Moon’ running throughout November and December.
Council moves to acquire full ownership of major town centre development site in Blackburn
Published on Thursday 7 November 2024 at 4:50 pm
Blackburn with Darwen Council could take full ownership of a major town centre development site if new proposals are agreed.
Brushing up the Borough begins with a bang!
Published on Thursday 7 November 2024 at 3:00 pm
In a pioneering project, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have teamed up with Together Housing to improve services and help communities feel empowered to take pride in their neighbourhood.
Filed under: Ashworth Estate | Blackburn | Brushing up the Borough | environment | Highways | Together Housing
‘Out of this world’ Christmas light switch-on announced for Blackburn!
Published on Tuesday 5 November 2024 at 5:17 pm
Blackburn’s much-anticipated Christmas lights switch-on event is set to take place on Saturday, November 23rd and we have the full line-up for you!
‘Cracker’ of a line-up revealed for Darwen Christmas lights switch on
Published on Friday 1 November 2024 at 3:35 pm
The full line-up for Darwen’s Christmas lights switch-on event has just been revealed and it’s a Christmas cracker with more than 10 hours of festive fun!
Blackburn’s nightlife set for boost with 124 live town centre gigs
Published on Wednesday 30 October 2024 at 10:54 am
A packed programme of brand-new live gigs has just been announced to help boost Blackburn’s nightlife.
VOTE FOR NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF MAKING at the UK Festival Awards 2024! 🏆
Published on Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 11:07 am
The National Festival of Making has been selected as a finalist in 4 categories at this year’s UK Festival Awards.
Filed under: Festival of Making | National Festival of Making
‘Mystery’ headliner revealed for Darwen Christmas lights switch-on
Published on Friday 11 October 2024 at 5:02 pm
The ‘mystery’ headliner for Darwen’s super-popular Christmas lights switch on has just been revealed as 90s electro dance group, K-Klass.
Businesses in Blackburn with Darwen to benefit from trailblazing new AI training for free
Published on Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 5:43 pm
Businesses and organisations in Blackburn with Darwen are set to be among the first in the country to benefit from empowering AI training with the IN4 Group – one of the UK’s largest professional technology skills providers.
Generous donation breathes new life into Darwen’s St John Ambulance Station
Published on Friday 4 October 2024 at 1:59 pm
St John Ambulance is set to return to Darwen after the charity’s base was bought by a generous donor and gifted to them to use for free.
Urgent warning about bogus text message parking scam fines being sent to residents
Published on Tuesday 1 October 2024 at 10:52 am
Residents are being warned that the Council has received several reports linked to a new parking fine scam.
Filed under: fraud | news | parking | parking scam | parkingscam | Scam | update
‘Momentum’ as Roundhouse breaks ground on second phase of £10m Blackburn business site
Published on Friday 27 September 2024 at 3:07 pm
Council leaders have welcomed news that work has started on the second phase of a £10m business park in Blackburn.
Super Subhan is top talent!
Published on Friday 27 September 2024 at 9:24 am
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Subhan Ali – Service Lead for Strategic Housing and Development – has been named in a new list of top talent.
Filed under: Blackburn | growth | Growth and Development | Leader
Big tick for multi-million-pound new Skills and Cyber Campus in Blackburn
Published on Friday 20 September 2024 at 1:44 pm
Ambitious plans have been passed for a Skills and Cyber Campus of national significance in Blackburn.
New Growth initiative will establish film and TV production hub in Blackburn
Published on Wednesday 4 September 2024 at 1:00 pm
In an ambitious move to bolster the film and television production landscape in Lancashire, the University of Central Lancashire has announced a strategic partnership with local industry stakeholders to establish a vibrant screen production hub in Blackburn with Darwen.
Say goodbye to summer with a weekend of family fun in Darwen
Published on Friday 30 August 2024 at 9:55 am
It might be the last weekend of the summer holidays, but there is still time to have fun!
Filed under: Darwen | Darwen Market | Darwen Town Centre | Shop Darwen
£1.5m will provide the ‘wow’ factor for The Exchange
Published on Thursday 22 August 2024 at 4:33 pm
The Exchange has announced the next phase of its regeneration journey thanks to a £1.5m grant from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – part of £20 million of new Government funding secured for the borough to support town centre priorities.