Blackburn makes first moves in £250m regeneration plan

The Grade II listed St John’s Church in Blackburn is to undergo a £3.54m renovation and become flexible working space.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Board has been asked to approve OMI Architects to lead on the refurbishment scheme, which will become the first step in a wider £250m transformation of the town centre.

The plans include developing the former Thwaites site and the potential relocation of Morrisons.

Coun Phil Riley, executive member for growth and development, said: "This is a landmark moment for our ambitious plans to transform Blackburn town centre. Appointing an architect for the refurbishment of St John’s Church paves the way for us to develop our proposals for the first phase of the scheme.

"As the oldest church in the town, it was devastating to see the damage caused after the fire in 2019. Using the money we have received from the insurance, we can now start work on refurbishing the historic building and re-purposing it as quality, flexible workspace."

Manchester-based OMI Architects was selected following a rigorous procurement process by the council. The company has won 12 national and regional RIBA awards and is well known for a broad range of work including museums, galleries and churches.

OMI’s work includes complex heritage schemes similar to St John’s involving some of the region’s most important Grade I and Grade II listed buildings, including All Souls in Bolton which was named RICS North West Building of the Year in 2015.

Councillor Riley added: “The masterplan shows that the council is forward-thinking with its place-making agenda and I’m really pleased that we’re already embarking on the first phase. It’s incredibly important that our towns are fit for the future – supporting our local economy, and creating higher quality jobs and living spaces to help build strong communities."

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