Work starts on multi-million-pound transformation of Darwen Youth Centre

By Rob Kelly

28 Mar 2025

Work starts on multi-million-pound transformation of Darwen Youth Centre

Work to demolish the existing Darwen Youth Centre building to pave the way for a multi-million-pound transformation is set to get underway.

Once completed, the new youth centre will be double the size, including a new creative workshop space, recording and DJ studio, gaming zone and multi-use spaces upgraded outdoor sports facilities.

The scheme is one of five across the borough to benefit from more than £8m of new funding secured through the Government’s Youth Investment Fund, with further investment committed by Blackburn with Darwen Council too.

 Councillor Julie Gunn, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are absolutely determined that our young people should have access to the very best facilities we can provide and it’s exciting to see this work at Darwen Youth Centre get underway.

"Our teams worked incredibly hard to secure the new funding from Government and it’s a fantastic opportunity to double the size of the youth centre with extra investment committed by the council too.

"There’s no doubt that it will be hugely beneficial to our young people – facilities like this and the services they provide can transform lives, we already see the huge impact that they have in our borough.

"We’re on a real mission at the council to ensure every child and young person in the borough has the opportunity to fulfil their potential – we truly believe that no-one should be left behind and this is a part of us achieving that."

Contractors Seddon have already been busy clearing and securing the site in recent weeks in anticipation for the demolition of the building. This is the first major development project that the construction company has undertaken in the town.

Originally, it had been hoped that at least some of the structure could be saved, but detailed surveys showed that the existing foundations wouldn’t support the planned additional level.

Pete McKinley, Commercial Director at Seddon Property Services said: "We are delighted to have started work in Darwen.

"The scheme has been a dream of the Council for long time and we’re proud to be helping them transform the site at the heart of Darwen town centre.

"The new building will provide much needed space for the town’s younger population and will have a positive impact on the next generations for years to come."

While the work is underway, youngsters can continue to access sessions, including at the new Darwen Youth Zone in Railway Road and at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre (BRIC).

Car parking at Darwen Railway Station and Atlas Road has also been made free for the duration of the works.

Impressively, Darwen Youth Centre is just one of many town centre projects that will benefit from £25m of new investment.

Through the Darwen Town Deal and further Council investment, Darwen Market, Darwen Library and Darwen Library Theatre will also benefit with a planning application already submitted for the market and another for the library and theatre imminent.

And the Government has also just confirmed up to £20m of new investment for the town through their new Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Councillor Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, added: "Darwen is benefitting from huge amounts of new investment with more to come, and we know it’s crucial that there’s opportunities within that for our young people.

"We also work hard to make every penny count in our borough, bidding for new Government funding where it exists – funding like this which will help us completely transform the youth centre and double it in size.

"In the past year, we’ve also invested in the playgrounds at Whitehall Park and Bold Venture too – again to benefit our children and young people here and for our families.

"I can’t wait to open the doors to the new youth centre and show our young people the end result.

The stretch of road where the youth centre stands was re-named Gary Aspden Way in 2024 to celebrate the huge efforts of adidas Spezial curator, Darrener Gary Aspden in helping regenerate our towns through culture and his unwavering support for young people, especially those supported by Nightsafe.

You can read about all of this and more in the new Shuttle magazine which will drop through your letterbox any day now.

For all the latest on the Darwen Youth Centre development, please follow Blackburn with Darwen Council on Facebook or Insta.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Partner promotions at WNJ Stuart Mercer, left, and Matthew Johnson

Partner promotions at WNJ

21 May 2025

2

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025 Dr. Emily Schweissinger - Evonik, Dr. Roland Hubel - Evonik, Dr Mike Murray - The Vita Group, Natalie Watson - The Vita Group, Chris Hupfeld - Coverstro, Dr. Annegret Terheiden - Evonik and Dennis Wagner - Covestro

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025

21 May 2025

3

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley Paul Hardy

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley

21 May 2025

4

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

5

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

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 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
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

Business Bike Club – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Jun 2025 - 03 Jun 2025

Business Bike Club – June

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

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