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

By Rob Kelly

19 May 2025

Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

Work has started on a landmark manufacturing and research development in Darwen, part of the ambitious £100m Darwen Town Deal.

Revolution Park, located off Goose House Lane, is being delivered by Barnfield Blackburn Ltd – a joint venture between Barnfield Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The new site is set to house a state-of-the-art manufacturing research centre, with ongoing discussions for Sheffield Universities’ Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to become the anchor tenant there.

Alongside this, 10 high-quality industrial units are also available for purchase or lease, creating a unique opportunity to establish a sector cluster of innovative businesses in the area.

Next door, a £30m expansion of Perspex International Ltd – a major employer in Darwen and the only production site for Perspex in the whole of the UK - is also now underway.

The expansion will make the manufacturing process greener, significantly reducing both water and energy consumption, while also safeguarding local jobs.

Both schemes are supported by the Darwen Town Deal, with Barnfield Construction appointed for the build on both projects.

Coun Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, said: “If we want a more prosperous future for Blackburn with Darwen, for our residents, we must invest in growth and this project is a shining example of that.

“From the start, the Board set out to ensure the Town Deal would be truly transformational, including a focus on employment and innovation opportunities.

“And the Town Deal funding has helped make these two schemes at Chapels viable – attracting significant new investment while also protecting and helping create new jobs.

“The £25m we initially secured from government has been turned into £100m of new investment with private and Council contributions too – a staggering level of new funding for Darwen focused on what really matters.”

The AMRC is recognised for transforming cutting-edge research into practical, real-world industrial improvements.

It connects a network of 70 universities and more than 1,000 businesses – from innovative start-ups to global manufacturing giants.

Coun Riley added: “Darwen has a proud industrial heritage – once a world leader.

“The name Revolution Park honours that history and the town’s key role in the First Industrial Revolution, and we want to be at the forefront of the next.

“We’re incredibly ambitious for Darwen and for our borough, and proud to back major investments like this and the Perspex expansion.”

The Darwen Town Deal has already supported other successful growth and innovation projects – including a new HQ for aerospace firm Brookhouse at Balle Street, close to India Mill.

The facility, also delivered by the Barnfield Group, is now complete and fully operational, enabling the business to expand - again, securing jobs in the town.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development and acquisition at Barnfield Group, said: “We’re delighted to be on site and progressing this important development at Revolution Park.

“This is a prime location for businesses to locate to with easy access to major motorway networks. 

“An AMRC base in Darwen would be a huge coup, and we’re actively marketing the additional new units for sale – with leasing options also available.”

The Darwen Town Deal forms part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s £1bn vision for the future.

It focuses on five key themes:

  • Town centre regeneration
  • Employment growth and business innovation
  • Destination Darwen – including trails to the iconic Jubilee Tower
  • Connected Darwen with ultrafast fibre broadband
  • A new East Lancashire Sports Village
    Together with wider investments like the Blackburn Growth Axis and the £250m Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan, the strategy could support up to 100,000 jobs, positioning the borough as a leading economic hub for the region.

Learn more about investment across Blackburn with Darwen at: www.discoverbwd.com

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy Ben Harrison

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy

19 Jun 2025

2

Plan to get Lancashire working Lancashire Combined Authority

Plan to get Lancashire working

19 Jun 2025

3

Napthens confirms expansion into Manchester Stephen Faulkner

Napthens confirms expansion into Manchester

18 Jun 2025

4

Counting the cost of work-related illness David Dunwell and Jen Briggs

Counting the cost of work-related illness

17 Jun 2025

5

Where there's a Will there's a way to protect your legacy Olivia Holt

Where there's a Will there's a way to protect your legacy

17 Jun 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
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

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

Chamber Business Lunch – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – June

Lancaster House Hotel, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4GL

11:00 - 13:30

90 day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Event Header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

90 day Business Planning Workshop

Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, BL6 6LB

09:00 - 16:30

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025
MMW.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, PR5 5XU

18:00 - 23:00

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 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