Compound decision adds to Vistry’s Darwen momentum

Beehive Mill will be demolished and a temporary construction compound created to service the ongoing development of 477 homes by group business Countryside Partnerships.

A decision was made in line with officer recommendation at last week’s meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning & highways committee.

Place North West reported last year how the local authority had used cash from Section 106 agreements to acquire the mill site from Oriental Developments in order to support Countryside’s development at Holden Fold, which it had approved in late 2023.

That project is expected to play a major part in BwD’s drive to deliver more affordable homes, including for those with specialist needs.

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The 45-acre Holden Fold site, formerly home to Darwen Moorland High School, was acquired in 2022 by Countryside, a Vistry Group business.

The mill complex, off Moor Lane, was home to a furniture business, which has been relocated, with officers describing the site in a pre-meeting report as disused. Originally, part of the mill – a non-listed heritage asset dating to 1919 – was to be retained, however the plan has advanced to full removal.

Place understands that the initial intention is that the site will be used as an overflow car park. Work on the wider site has already begun, with the first handovers due to be to private rented sector partner Sigma, with occupation taking place from October.

The first batches of homes will consist of three-bed detached, semi and three-block properties. Vistry is aiming to have the site completed by November 2028.

The application was made by the local authority, and can be viewed on its planning portal with the reference 10/24/1001

Thursday’s meeting also cleared the development of a terrace of 13 industrial units, amounting to a combined 10491 sq ft, at the former Newman’s shoe factory off Garden Street, Blackburn. Documents relating to this scheme can be viewed at 10/24/0239.