AN IDEAL HOMES PLAN
It has been described as the biggest housing development in the history of Blackburn with Darwen as a local authority and a strong statement that the borough is open for investment.
The proposed Fishmoor Development Area will deliver a range of different houses and create a key site for hospital workers, families and young people to come into the area.
The scheme is a partnership between the council, the Together Housing group and its partner, private developer Countryside Homes. There will be a mix of properties for sale, rent and shared ownership with affordable social housing and family homes.
The biggest planning application the borough has seen in more than two decades has, like many development plans, been delayed by the coronavirus crisis.
However, the council says that the developer is now appraising the situation as it comes out of lockdown and will look to progress the application over the next few months.
The proposed plans will see 600 homes build on land around Highercroft, in the Fishmoor Drive area.
In the first phase there will be 380 homes built on three sites off Roman Road and Fishmoor Drive, near to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
A fourth site off Fishmoor Drive is earmarked for development at a later date and will add more than 200 homes to the area.
The disposal of land to the developers was approved before lockdown. Coun Phil Riley, executive member for growth and development, said: “It will bring huge benefits to the borough and is very positive news indeed.
“It will open up new homes for people and is massively building on improvements already taking place and showing that Blackburn is a major place for investors.”
A BIG DEAL FOR DARWEN
Members of the new Darwen Town Deal board met for the first time just days before the country went into lockdown.
And as that lockdown is slowly eased their task remains to same – to use their skills and expertise to help develop a strong investment plan that aims to secure up to £25m of government funding.
If the bid is successful, the cash will be spent regenerating the town and surrounding areas.
The deal board is not short of ideas about where the cash could be spent. That first meeting discussed a raft of initiatives.
They included a town centre transformation programme, the potential for developing new facilities for youngsters, funding for employment and housing opportunities, better transport links and investment for green infrastructure, including parks.
A Darwen ‘Icons and Creativity Programme’ could also include Darwen Tower, the library
and theatre, the new Market Square and help to support popular local events like Darwen Live.
Wayne Wild, group commercial director of WEC Group, one of the town’s biggest employers, was confirmed as chair of the group at the meeting.
This funding offers a once in a generation opportunity to transform the whole area
He says: “It was fantastic to get us all around the table for our first meeting – though it’s still very early days.
“We all have different skills and expertise to offer, but one shared goal – to do the very best we can to secure as much investment as possible for Darwen. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the town.”
206002 Pierce Banner_Jigsaw_Layout 1 19/06/2020 11:46 Page 1 Accountants and business advisers
Finding solutions to your problems, taking a pro-active approach.
Give us a call to discuss
how we can help your business 01254 688100
Email:
l.kennery@
pierce.co.uk LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
Darwen is one of 101 towns across the country invited to apply for a share of £3.6bn of Towns Fund investment.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has been asked to help lead the application, which is due to be submitted this summer, and bringing the new board together was one of the first steps. The aim is to draw up an ‘investment plan’ to present to the government.
The deal board is made up of a diverse group of people from across the public and private sector.
They include East Lancs Chamber chief executive Miranda Barker, adidas designer and global brand consultant Gary Aspden and Steve Waggot, chief executive of Blackburn Rovers.
Rossendale and Darwen MP and former Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry is also on the board. He says: “This funding offers a once in a generation opportunity to transform the whole area and we’ll all be working really hard to secure the very best deal possible.”
55
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
