Published Friday 14 February 2025 at 13:27
Please note that the car parks at Darwen Market will be closed for periods between Monday, February 24th and Friday, February 28th.
This is to allow for important investigation works to be carried out as part of plans for millions of pounds of new investment in the town centre.
Every effort is being made to keep disruption to a minimum, but the following closures are necessary to allow for the essential works:
- Monday 24/2 and Tuesday 25/2 – Closure of the bottom, middle, and rooftop car park
- Wednesday 26/2 to Friday 28/2 – Closure of the bottom and middle car park
In preparation for the wider town centre investment – supported by the Council and Darwen Town Deal – 15 car parks across the town centre have already been upgraded. This has included resurfacing and new line painting to help create extra spaces.
It’s also currently free to park at Darwen Railway Station and at Atlas Road.
Martin Kelly, Strategic Director for Growth and Development and Deputy Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
Millions of pounds of new investment is planned for Darwen town centre in the next few years.
A huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to develop plans for the Market Hall, Darwen Library, and Darwen Library Theatre. As you can imagine, these are complex schemes given the history of the buildings.
We’re now at a stage where more detailed investigations are needed, which require the temporary closure of the car parks.
Due to the nature of the works, this can’t be avoided, but we’re doing everything we can to keep the disruption to an absolute minimum.
As part of measures to reduce the impact of the temporary closures, they’ve been planned to avoid the half-term break and the noisier investigations will be undertaken when the market is closed on a Tuesday.
Mr Kelly added:
Residents have told us that investing in the town centre, especially the market, is incredibly important to them – and it is to us too.
Like I’ve said, these are complex projects, but ones that are vital to the future of the town centre.
During these works, our market traders and town centre businesses will need your continued support.
Please do shop local when you can – we have some fantastic businesses here in Darwen.
The town centre investment is a major project as part of the Darwen Town Deal.
£25m of Government funding was successfully secured through the Town Deal, enhanced by new private investment, and £12.5m in new Council investment support.
In addition to this, the new Government has also confirmed £20m of additional funding through the Long-Term Plan. Plans on how this funding will be allocated are expected to be announced shortly.
For more on the Town Deal, please visit: www.darwentowndeal.co.uk
To keep up to date with the latest town centre news, please visit: www.darwentowncentre.co.uk
You can also follow Darwen Town Centre on Facebook and Shop Darwen on Instagram.