Published Friday 25 April 2025 at 10:31
The refurbishment of another property in Blackburn’s £50m Cultural Quarter has taken a major step forward this week, with a new planning application submitted.
Blackburn with Darwen Council is looking to transform 3-7 Blakey Moor into premises for a town centre restaurant opposite King George’s Hall, which is itself benefiting from a £9m of new investment.
The building, adjacent to the newly renovated Blakey Moor terrace, housed a Subway fast food restaurant until 2020.
The Council then acquired the historic building to protect its future use as the Blakey Moor area undergoes a major revival.
Funding for the works at 3-7 Blakey Moor comes from recent Government investment of £20million in key cultural assets, secured in 2024.
Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
This property is an important part of our continued development of the Blakey Moor and Northgate area, which is transforming the historic heart of Blackburn.
This planning application is another key milestone in our work in this area, keeping up the momentum on the Cultural Quarter development.
It’s fantastic that we have been able to allocate funding from government to bring this 1930s building back into use.
We have already had some commercial interest in the building and hope to see it open as a restaurant later this year.
The work at 3-7 Blakey Moor will include restoration of the windows, front elevation and gable end, and a new roof. Internally, the space will be remodelled, with restoration of the original staircase, provision of a second staircase to meet fire regulations, new customer toilets and kitchen area, and a new heating system.
External works will provide an additional outdoor seating area and will complete the landscaping to the rear of the recently redeveloped Blakey Moor Terrace.
Councillor Phil Riley added:
It’s exciting to see more works on the horizon for our Cultural Quarter, providing perfect locations for new restaurants, cafes and bars right in the heart of Blackburn.
It’s part of our place-focused growth strategy for the borough, to ensure strong futures for our town centres.
Having a strong cultural offer is more important than ever before, and redeveloping Blakey Moor, along with the jewel in the crown that is King George’s Hall is vital to this.
3-7 Blakey Moor first appeared on first appear on a map of Blackburn in 1937.
By 1956 the building was listed as Inland Revenue Offices, and during the 1980s the property was in use for retail, before it became a fast-food takeaway and sandwich shop.
You can view the full planning application by clicking here.