Boohoo chips in for Burnley’s Pioneer Place
The fashion retailer has invested £300,000 to support the £21m town centre leisure development, being delivered by the council and Maple Grove Developments.
At a meeting last week, Burnley Council approved several measures to ensure the planned cinema and leisure complex goes ahead despite an increase in how much the scheme will cost due to ongoing volatility within the construction sector.
After reiterating its support for the project, which includes a Reel cinema and five retail and leisure units totalling 12,750 sq ft, the council said work could start on site early next year.
Council leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said: “The council and its development partner Maple Grove Developments have invested a considerable amount of time and resource into bringing the scheme to this stage.
“We are determined to forge forward with this exciting and ambitious project despite a number of challenges facing the construction industry, not just here in Burnley but across the whole world.”
The project, designed by Aew Architects, had already secured £3.7m from the government’s Getting Building Fund and £3m from Lancashire County Council.
Boohoo’s £300,000 contribution towards the scheme will help the council and Maple Grove overcome the increased costs of the project, and enable the scheme to be delivered within the parameters agreed by the authority 12 months ago.
John Lyttle, chief executive of Boohoo, said: “The Boohoo group is delighted to help support this exciting project in Burnley, which will be a fantastic addition to the town.
“We opened our first international distribution centre in Burnley 11 years ago, and are proud to be one of the largest private sector employers in the area and long-standing partner of the Burnley community. Our wonderful team has grown to over 2,000 people who will all benefit from this wonderful new leisure area and we look forward to seeing it take shape.”
Cllr Anwar continued: “This is a major opportunity to expand and improve Burnley town centre and one that we have to take advantage of, and even the biggest social upheaval since the Second World War won’t stop us doing that.”
