Published Thursday 26 June 2025 at 14:00
Work is progressing on the multi-million-pound development of a new youth centre in Darwen, with a steel frame now being craned into place.
The structure offers a first glimpse of the scale and design of the impressive new building – which will be double the size of what was there previously.
The scheme is one of five across the borough to benefit from more than £8m of new funding secured through the Government’s Youth Investment Fund, with further investment committed by Blackburn with Darwen Council too.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:
We have big ambitions for the future of our borough – for our towns and for our residents – and our youngsters are an incredibly important part of that.
It’s fantastic to see these works progress – the demolition phase has now been completed, and the steel frame is being lifted into place, showing just how much bigger this facility will be than what was there previously.
Impressively, when it’s finished, this new centre is set to boast everything from gaming zones to a creative workshop space, a recording and DJ studio, and upgraded sports facilities too.
It’ll be a place that young people will want to go to – where they can learn new skills and be inspired. This is exactly what the young people of Darwen deserve.
The youth centre is part of wider town centre regeneration planned for Darwen.
Just last week, a planning application to restore and refurbish the town’s iconic Carnegie Library and extend Darwen Library Theatre was passed.
And a planning application is currently being considered that could pave the way for millions of pounds of new investment for Darwen Market too.
On top of this, the Government has also confirmed up to £20m of new investment for the town through its new Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme.
Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, added:
Darwen is benefitting from huge amounts of new investment – with more to come – and we know it’s crucial that there are opportunities within that for our young people.
We’ve already seen the huge difference this funding can help make, with the extension of Blackburn Youth Zone and the Fuse Box project there, which is seriously impressive.
Here in Darwen, I can’t wait to open the doors to the new youth centre and show our young people the end result.
The stretch of road where the youth centre stands was renamed Gary Aspden Way in 2024 to celebrate the huge efforts of adidas Spezial curator and Darrener, Gary Aspden, in helping regenerate our towns through culture – and his unwavering support for young people, especially those helped by Nightsafe.
Whilst the work is underway, youngsters can continue to access sessions at the Darwen Youth Zone on Railway Road and at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre (BRIC).
Car parking at Darwen Railway Station and Atlas Road has also been made free for the duration of the works.
For all the latest on the Darwen Youth Centre development, please follow Blackburn with Darwen Council on Facebook or Insta.