Maple Grove wins Blackburn Cathedral Quarter scheme

Maple Grove Developments has been selected as preferred developer for the £70m mixed-use regeneration of Blackburn's Cathedral Quarter.

The decision was made by Blackburn with Darwen council and Blackburn Cathedral Developments, supported by English Partnerships. Maple Grove beat a Neptune/Artisan consortium in the final round.

Maple Grove's masterplan, drawn up by architects BDP, will deliver 500,000 sq ft of new premises, including a new transport interchange, with offices, apartments, retail and leisure clustered around the cathedral. Gardens and new pedestrian links from the rail station to the redeveloped Mall Shopping Centre are also included.

Andrew Dewhurst, director of Maple Grove, said: "This area of Blackburn has been under-utilised over recent years but it houses two of the town's key landmarks, the cathedral and the rail station, which give it the potential to become a thriving and attractive arrival point into Blackburn.

"With the redevelopment of the transport interchange alongside the wider plans for the renaissance of the town, we aim to deliver a distinct and well connected development, as well as a dynamic destination for people to work, live and spend their leisure time."

He continues: "With the massive regeneration under way across the North West, not least in neighbouring Preston, it is important that Blackburn receives a similar level of investment, not only to compete with its neighbours, but also to complement efforts to raise the profile of Lancashire as an important centre for business and leisure.

Eric Wright Construction, Maple Grove's sister company within the Eric Wright Group, was recently employed on the new Blackburn College and will build the Cathedral Quarter.

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