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CHORLEY
CENTRAL PLAN
EDGES CLOSER Preparation work is being lined up for the multi-million-pound Lancashire Central employment site near Chorley as development plans progress.
Lancashire County Council and its development partner, Maple Grove Developments, say initial work, including groundworks and utilities, could begin in early 2027 while discussions continue with potential occupiers.
Planning permission for the 1.6 million sq ft scheme at Cuerden was granted in 2023. Once complete, it could create around 2,400 jobs during construction and up to 5,600 full-time jobs.
A Lancashire County Council spokesperson said: “The site currently remains in the pre- development phase, but progress has been made allowing Maple Grove Developments to engage with a number of potential occupiers.
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Plans to regenerate the former Camelot Theme Park site at Charnock Richard with 350 new homes have been approved following a successful appeal by Story Homes.
The development will transform the long- derelict brownfield site, which closed as a tourist attraction in 2012, bringing new housing, community facilities, investment in local infrastructure and a boost to the construction supply chain.
Half of the homes will be affordable for eligible local people. The scheme also includes a community hub providing flexible space for co- working, meetings and community activities.
Adam Galleymore, North West operations director at Story Homes, said: “This decision represents a major milestone in bringing
forward the regeneration of a well-known brownfield site that has remained derelict for many years.
“The approved scheme will deliver a wide range of benefits including much-needed new homes, a significant proportion of affordable housing, new community facilities and investment in local infrastructure.”
The development is expected to generate around £3m in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions and a further £1.85m through Section 106 agreements to support playing pitches, public rights of way, public transport services and community facilities.
Construction is also expected to support around 240 jobs through local contractors, subcontractors and supply chains over the lifetime of the project.
SHARING THE LOAD AS THE SHAKE-UP LOOMS
Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire councils have approved plans to work more closely ahead of the biggest shake-up of local government in a generation.
Under local government reorganisation plans, the county’s 15 existing borough, district, unitary and county councils will be replaced. However, there has been no final decision on the number or geography of the new authorities.
The three councils have asked to form a new unitary authority as part of the reorganisation, due to come into force from April 2028.
They have agreed to introduce shared senior leadership arrangements, stressing the move is not a merger.
The current chief executive of Chorley and South Ribble will also become chief executive at West Lancashire, providing strategic leadership across all three councils. West Lancashire will appoint a deputy chief executive to oversee day- to-day operations, while its current monitoring officer will become the shared monitoring officer across the three authorities.
Coun Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said: “The proposals to work more closely with
West Lancashire is an obvious and sensible step in preparation for further change as we move into local government reorganisation.
“We have seen first-hand the benefit of working closely with our neighbouring authority, South Ribble, and so the sharing of these two senior positions will build on this.
“The areas of Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire share many commonalities, and so shared expertise and experience across the authorities can only further improve the services we provide.”
David Whittington, leader of West Lancashire Council, said: “By working more closely with Chorley and South Ribble, we can strengthen leadership capacity, maintain strong local decision making and provide stability for our workforce and residents as we move through local government reorganisation.”
“As expected for a site of this scale, discussions are continuing while initial work is being considered for early 2027. We continue to see significant interest in the site, and a formal development programme will be announced in due course.”
The development will provide industrial, manufacturing, logistics, research and development space, alongside amenities including food and drink outlets, a gym, hotel, health centre and crèche.
Planning approval also includes up to 116 homes. Once completed, Lancashire Central is expected to provide an estimated £390m annual boost to the regional economy through increased business activity and spending.
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