Plans submitted for 53,000 sq ft Darwen manufacturing research centre

Barnfield Blackburn, a joint venture between the Barnfield Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council, wants to build the facility on a vacant five-acre plot off Goose House Lane.

DAY Architectural designed the scheme, which would deliver a manufacturing and research centre and 10 smaller units totalling 53,500 sq ft on the greenfield Darwen site.

Proposals are anchored by an 11,700 sq ft unit, of which Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is in advanced talks to lease the space. The university would occupy the space in order to house its first-of-its-kind additive manufacturing accelerator.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development and acquisition at Barnfield Group, said: “This is a prime location for a manufacturing development like this and we are already engaging in initial discussions with the AMRC to be the anchor tenant there, should the plans be approved.

“It would be the first additive manufacturing accelerator of its kind in the UK, bringing with it a whole host of opportunities for the town.”

Plans also include a further 10 smaller units, ranging from 2,600 sq ft to 5,400 sq ft.

Staff and visitors would be provided with a total of 68 car parking spaces including 13 disabled and 12 electric vehicle charging bays. There would also be 20 cycle and three motorcycle spaces.

If approved, work could start on the facility as early as next year.

The project is being supported by the £100m Darwen Town Deal.

• READ: North West communities net £486m from Town Deals

Chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, Wayne Wild, said: “Our vision has always been that we would use the £25m of Government Town Deal funding – worth £100m with Council and private investment – as a catalyst to kick-start the transformation of the town.

“High on our agenda is employment growth and business innovation – using the funding to help safeguard and create new jobs and opportunities in the town through investing in sites to prepare them for development.”

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and deputy chair of the Darwen Town Deal, Cllr Phil Riley, added: “Our vision is driven by wanting to do better for our residents – creating a more prosperous borough where no one is left behind.

“Schemes like this proposed manufacturing research centre unlock new possibilities for Darwen – creating new jobs and supporting existing businesses to grow”, he continued.

“There is a huge sense of momentum here and we’re working really hard to continue to build on that, these plans being yet another really good example of the results of strong partnership working and the confidence in Blackburn with Darwen as a place to invest and do business.”

On the neighbouring site, Perspex International is also developing plans to deliver a £30m national manufacturing centre with support from the Town Deal.

The project team for Barnfield Blackburn’s scheme includes Adept Consulting Engineers, Mode Transport Planning, E3P, Groundshore Insights, RS Acoustic Engineering, and Capita.

Want to learn more about the project? Search for application number 10/23/0732 on Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning portal.