Published Friday 19 February 2021 at 15:17
Plans have been passed for a striking new urban sports village to be created in Darwen.
The ‘world class’ sporting facility at Junction4 Skatepark will be the first of its kind in the area and could be used as a venue to hold UK Olympic qualifying events and the BMX World Championships.
£250,000 has already been pledged by the Darwen Town Deal Board as part of its plans to create a new sporting village.
Facilities Manager at the skatepark, Anthony Ramsey said: “This project is incredibly exciting not just for us but for the whole town.
“It’s a chance to transform land that hasn’t been used for more than a decade in to a world class sporting facility where we can develop our own home-grown talent for the Olympic Games.
“Impressively, both British Cycling and Skateboard GB/England will be supporting the new project with talent programmes which is an incredible opportunity for the town’s youngsters.
“The new urban sports village really will be the first of its kind in the area and it will boast a street skatepark, dirt jump, pump track and BMX contest area.
“It’ll be a family-orientated venue where parents will be able to watch their children progress in new Olympic sports in a really trendy environment.
“There’s also space incorporated within the project that could be used by local businesses as well as accommodation facilities to attract people to the town – hopefully bringing a welcome boost to the local economy.”
A planning application was submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council for the new urban sports village after the community-led Junction4 Skatepark secured funding under the Town Deal’s acceleration fund for ‘quick win projects.’
The plans were rubber stamped by the Council’s Planning and Highways Committee at its meeting last night (Thursday, Feb 18th).
When completed, it will form part of a wider sports village planned for the town with funding also pledged to help transform the ground at AFC Darwen and a feasibility study for an elite cricket academy.
Chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, Wayne Wild, said: “I’d really like to congratulate all those involved in this fantastic project for Darwen.
“It’s great news that the planning application has been passed. I know that that will have come off the back of a lot of hard work from all involved.
“This facility is one that the town will be proud to boast and it offers a world of opportunity for youngsters who dream of one day competing in the Olympic Games.
“I’m really looking forward to the work starting and watching the project progress.”
The Darwen Town Deal Board has been working hard on a bid to Government to secure up to £25m of funding to kick-start the transformation of the town.
If agreed, the proposals could be worth more than £100m with additional private and council investment.
Proposals include restoring the town’s Victorian market – creating a new food hall and ‘makers market,’ to attract visitors, funding for the Library and Library Theatre and improved car parking.
There’s also cash for the ‘gateways’ – improving the look-and-feel of the town from both the north and south as well as funding to improve pathways through the town’s parks and woods up on to the moors.
A new manufacturing opportunity has also been developed which would put Darwen on the map nationally – harking back to the town’s place in history as industry leaders.
And there’s plans for new employment sites to support new jobs, money to complete housing sites which have stalled, an ultrafast broadband offer and more.
A date for when a decision is expected on the funding bid has not yet been announced.
For more information, please visit: www.darwentowndeal.co.uk