Blackburn with Darwen reports ‘impressive’ six-year growth

The authority’s Growth Programme has facilitated “excellent growth”, with the authority having overseen the completion of a net total of 2,578 homes and 1.2m sq ft of employment space since 2017.

Last Thursday, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board approved the latest stage of the framework, which acts as a blueprint for new housing and commercial developments in the borough.

The strategy has “helped deliver impressive performance since the current Local Plan was adopted in 2015”, according to a report in which the council describes its success.

Highlights include the fact that more than 51% of the 2,578 completed homes have been delivered on brownfield land in the past six years, while the council’s Section 106 income has skyrocketed from £1.4m in 2015/2016 to £11m today.

Housing

Of the net 2,578 homes completed over the past six years, Blackburn with Darwen Council delivered 569 of these properties in 2022/2023. This figure shows a 24% increase from the 369 housing completions in 2021/2022 and a 112% increase from the 231 in 2017/2018.

A total of 24% of the net housing completions have been affordable. This total exceeds the council’s 20% target.

Looking to the future, the council’s two joint venture companies are key to the 2023/2024 Growth Programme.

Maple Grove Blackburn was formed with Maple Grove Developments in 2021. The JV is preparing a 10-year masterplan, which includes the demolition of the Penny Lane Morrisons store to pave the way for 500 homes.

Elsewhere, Barnfield Blackburn, formed with Barnfield Developments in 2018, has sold the former Lower Darwen Paper Mill to Elan Homes for the construction of 76 homes. These houses are expected to complete later this year.

The North East Blackburn Strategic Housing Site around Sunny Bower is another key housing plot, which is earmarked for 1,500 new homes.

Employment space

Blackburn with Darwen Council oversaw the delivery of 92,440 sq ft of employment space in 2022/2023, creating a total of 1.2m sq ft over the last six years.

As a result of these deliveries, 5,000 net additional jobs have been provided since 2017.

For 2023/2024, the council has highlighted a number of key employment projects including Autolab’s 21,500 sq ft showroom off Carl Fogarty Way and Assura’s transformation of the grade two-listed Griffin Lodge into a medical centre.