Second Cathedral Square development unveiled

A detailed planning application for the next phase of Blackburn's Cathedral Quarter has been submitted.

Two Cathedral Square will include a six storey building with a further 30,500 sq ft net office accommodation and 5,000 sq ft allocated for retail or restaurant use on the ground floor.

It will sit alongside One Cathedral Square, which includes 35,000 sq ft of office space. The development was completed in 2016 and is now home to organisations including Cummings Mellor, GovNet Communications, Capita and Northern Rail.

Denise Park, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s deputy chief executive, who has lead responsibility for the investment and growth programme, said: “The Cathedral Quarter development acts as an impressive gateway to visitors arriving to the town and it’s had a really positive impact on the whole borough. The scheme’s excellent transport links and the overall quality of the build has made it the destination of choice for many blue-chip and national organisations.

“This has the potential to be a very exciting new phase. We’ve already had some helpful discussions and we look forward to seeing the wider consultation start as part of the normal processes.”

Maple Grove Developments, working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn Cathedral, is overseeing the project. BDP Architects completed the latest designs, and Knight Frank and Trevor Dawson have been retained as joint letting agents for the scheme.

Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove Developments, said: “One Cathedral Square has proven to be extremely popular and we are confident that number two will follow suit, helping to position Cathedral Square as an established business and leisure location. “It’s a major regeneration project for the region and as a Lancashire developer one that we are very much proud to be a part of. Once planning is granted, we will look to start on site later in 2019.”