Perspex submits £40m expansion plans

By Tim Aldred

12 Aug 2024

Perspex International Proposed Extension Visual

Plastics firm Perspex International has submitted its planning application for a £40m upgrade of one of its sites in Darwen.

The plans, which are supported by the Darwen Town Deal, will see the extension to the existing Chapels Park site to streamline its processes and, in turn, reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption.

The investment will also help safeguard jobs in the town while helping to create new roles too.

If the plans for the new Polymerisation Hall and Energy Centre are agreed, the extension would pave the way for Perspex International to centralise its local operations to just one location.

The planning application is for a 1,240 sq m extension to the site accessed off Goose House Lane. The full manufacturing side of the businesses has already moved to that site and, as part of the centralisation, the Orchard Mill site on the A666 would be sold for re-development.

Bryan Welch, operations director at Perspex, said: "Perspex International has a long and rich history in Darwen – one that we want to build upon and continue to develop.

“Perspex first came to the town during the Second World War as it was seen as a safe place for the plant which was manufacturing Spitfire canopies.

“Perspex acrylic has been a leading brand in plastic since the 1930s and Darwen is the only production site for Perspex across the whole of the UK.

“This major new investment demonstrates our commitment to the town, it will allow us to modernise and streamline the way we work and allow us to become much greener – reducing CO2 emissions and water consumption, something we are passionate about.”

Wayne Wild, chair of the Town Deal Board, said: "As Bryan has said, Perspex International has strong historical ties to the town, being a major employer here for decades.

“The Town Deal Board was keen to support the planned new investment to help safeguard jobs and create new opportunities and it’s a fantastic step forward to see this planning application submitted today.

“Manufacturing is part of the very fabric of Darwen and as part of the £100m Town Deal, we have been able to help bring forward a site for a new HQ for Brookhouse and a pioneering manufacturing and research centre on a neighbouring site at Chapels.

“Barnfield Blackburn Ltd – a joint venture between Barnfield Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council – is progressing talks with Sheffield Universities’ AMRC to be the anchor tenant there – housing its first-of-its-kind Additive Manufacturing Accelerator. A huge coup for the town."

Coun Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Deputy Chair of Darwen Town Deal, said: “We are incredibly proud of our reputation for partnership working and supporting our businesses in the borough - helping them to grow and succeed. We took the £25m of Government Town Deal funding and we’ve worked incredibly hard to leverage major investment for the town, including these impressive proposals for the future of Perspex International.

“In total, we’re looking at more than £100m of new investment for the town – that’s more than any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We will continue to work hard to secure major new investment for our towns as part of our £1bn vision for the future and our mission to ensure no-one is left behind.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

2

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

3

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

4

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing

19 May 2025

5

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025 Mark Long

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025

19 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin