Issa brothers lodge 603,000 sq ft Blackburn estate plans

Monte Blackburn wants to build seven industrial units across 48 acres off Junction 5 of the M65, a site set to be released from the Green Belt under the borough’s emerging local plan.

The Issa brothers’ development arm has lodged outline plans with Blackburn with Darwen Council, proposing to deliver 603,000 sq ft of warehouse space off Haslingden Road, between the villages of Belthorn and Guide.

Illustrative plans drawn up by Campbell Driver Partnership indicate that the agricultural buildings at Blackhill Farm would be demolished to make way for the units, which would range from 34,200 sq ft to 147,900 sq ft.

Named Central 65, the development would sit on a larger land parcel allocated for up to 774,500 sq ft of employment space under the emerging Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Local Plan. Until the local plan is formally adopted, the 48-acre plot is made up of Green Belt land.

Monte Blackburn ran a public consultation last month on the scheme, which it estimates will create more than jobs.

Freeths LLP is advising the brothers on the proposals. The project team also includes Dynamic Transport Planning, Pegasus Group, Bowland Ecology, Adept, Red Six, and GRM Development Solutions.

To learn more about the development, search for application number 10/23/1075 on Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning portal.