An Eric Wright joint venture has submitted a planning application for a Skills and Cyber Campus in Blackburn.
Maple Grove Blackburn, a joint venture between Eric Wright owned Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Council, submitted plans for the first phase of the work on the project.
The development comprises two new contemporary buildings with landscaping and public realm and has been earmarked for the former Blackburn Market site.
It is part of a £250 million Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan developed by BDP to transform the area.
The application seeks full permission for the first building together with the public realm and new urban green space with outline plans for the second building to follow.
The council secured £20 million of Levelling Up funding towards the scheme and is in talks with UCLAN for its training company to expand and relocate to the development and occupy the first building.
The old Blackburn Market was located on Brown Street, constructed in the 1960s before it was demolished in 2013.
Nick Hague, project director for Maple Grove Developments, said: “The two new buildings, along with the fantastic public realm and landscaping, will transform this key gateway site into a world-class education and commercial quarter, supporting the wider regeneration plans for the town centre.”
Growth Director at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Simon Jones, said: “This is an opportunity for us to bring thousands of learners into our town centre every single year to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities.
“The masterplan is part of the Council’s £1bn vision for the future – delivering on its commitment to create a more prosperous borough where no-one is left behind.”
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