Darwen gets go-ahead for 'transformational' manufacturing site

Planning approval has been granted for a 'pioneering' manufacturing and research centre in Darwen.

Plans to build a main centre and ten smaller industrial units on a two-hectare site at Chapels form a key part of the £100m Darwen Town Deal.

Discussions are progressing with Sheffield Universities’ AMRC to be the anchor tenant there – housing its first-of-its-kind Additive Manufacturing Accelerator.

Perspex International, a major employer in the town, is also developing plans to expand its neighbouring Chapels site with a proposed new £30m national manufacturing centre there, also backed by the Town Deal.

Wayne Wild, chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, said: “We worked incredibly hard to secure the full £25m through the Town Deal and then use that to unlock more than £100m of new funding for Darwen.

“We want our plans for the town to be truly transformational, including creating opportunities around employment growth and business innovation too.

“The AMRC facility could be the first of its kind for the country – pioneering additive and 3D printing technology and creating opportunities for local businesses to thrive in that sector.

“Darwen has a long and proud industrial heritage – being a world-leader - and so we’re proud to be able to support plans for this new manufacturing and research centre and securing this planning permission is a fantastic step forward.”

The plans were submitted by Barnfield Blackburn, a joint venture between Barnfield Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The proposed site plan, submitted as part of the planning application, shows how the land off Goose House Lane will be developed to house the new manufacturing research centre with the 10 smaller units being for B2 and B8 class use.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development and acquisition at Barnfield Group, said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing forward this development on the Chapels site.

“This is a prime location for a manufacturing development, and we’re progressing our discussions with the AMRC to be the anchor tenant there.

“It would be the first Additive Manufacturing Accelerator of its kind in the UK, bringing with it a whole host of opportunities for the town. Having an AMRC in Darwen would be a huge coup."