Burnley plans decade of economic growth

Burnley has agreed a local plan which, through new jobs, homes, and retail opportunities, will instigate ten years of economic growth.

The plans build on the town's recent successes which include its ranking as one of Britain's best areas for job growth and innovation in the tech sector.

Allocation of new employment sites, including the 32 acre Burnley Bridge South, provide the potential to create a further 4,400 new jobs. This will be bolstered by the allocation of new housing sites for 3,880 new high quality homes and support for growth in the retail and leisure sector within the town centre.

Council leader Mark Townsend said: “For years residents have told the council they want to see a wider choice of housing, more job opportunities and better shops balanced with quality green spaces. This plan, developed on a ‘brownfield first’ approach, helps us to achieve those goals."

Kate Ingram, head of the council’s economy and growth team, signalled that the council is looking to talk to housing companies about developing key sites.

"We are transforming Burnley's housing offer and with the new direct rail link to Manchester, Burnley is becoming a serious commuter belt option," she said.

"Burnley is 80 per cent rural, but just 45 minutes from Manchester and provides an affordable, quality lifestyle offer. With new businesses moving in, new development land allocated, which is set to create hundreds of new jobs, the new housing development sites in attractive rural locations are a strong investment opportunity for quality housing developers."

Kate added: ”With the growth of the University of Central Lancashire campus in Burnley with student numbers forecast to rise from 400 to 4,000 by 2025 there’s also a growing student accommodation market for developers to take advantage of.”

Burnley Bridge South, part of Eshton’s Burnley Bridge Employment Gateway situated at Junction 9 M65, has been allocated as proposed employment land in the council’s next Local Plan and is set to bring 1,300 new jobs to the town.

James Chapman, managing director of Eshton, said: “To date, the three-phase Burnley Bridge development off the M65 carriageway has brought more than £50m in investment to the town and the surrounding area.

“The new Burnley Bridge South scheme will provide a similar mix of warehousing and industrial accommodation to the existing site. It forms part of our vision to expand the town's business park presence and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in Burnley.

"Our strategy of continued growth is on track and we’re confident that the next 12 months will bring further significant milestones.’’ Copies of the plan as adopted and the accompanying adopted policies map, the sustainability appraisal report, the inspector’s report and copies of the adoption notice are available to download from the council's website.