Maple Grove buys prime Blackburn brownfield sites

Maple Grove, Eric Wright Group’s development company, has secured the 4.4 acre mixed use development opportunity surrounding the £7m Wainwright Way link road into Blackburn town centre.

Maple Grove faced strong competition for the development opportunity, which comprises six vacant lots of brownfield land on a key thoroughfare close to the town centre. The company has a strong track record of delivery in Blackburn and secured the site when Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Board recommended approval following a successful tender process organised by its newly-formed Growth Team.

Andrew Dewhurst from Maple Grove Developments said: “We have already appointed an agent for the scheme and the market research that will be carried out with local businesses will help us determine the mix of accommodation needed to inform the design process.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s deputy chief executive, Denise Park, added: "We are pleased to be working with Maple Grove again following the success of the Cathedral Quarter. The Wainwright Way development will bring much needed business space. The Council has reorganised its development and planning services to further drive business growth in the borough and will be looking to bring forward more sites in the coming months." Maple Grove Developments anticipates that the first units will be available by the end of 2018 and it is anticipated that Eric Wright Construction will deliver the build phase.