Revolution Park works kick off

Barnfield’s joint venture with the local authority is delivering the R&D-led facility as part of the £100m Darwen Town Deal.

Revolution Park, located off Goose House Lane, is being delivered by Barnfield Blackburn Ltd, a JV between Lancashire property business Barnfield Group and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The new site is being lined up to house a manufacturing research centre – discussions are ongoing for the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to become anchor tenant of a 53,145 sq ft development.

In all, Revolution Park is to comprise an 11,600 sq ft unit, along with 10 smaller units ranging from 2,577 sq ft to 5,388 sq ft, available for purchase or lease.

The project adds further momentum to Chapels Park, an area undergoing change: next door, a £30m expansion of Perspex International is advancing, a project that will make a crucial local manufacturing site greener.

Both schemes are supported by the Darwen Town Deal, with Barnfield Construction appointed for the build on each.

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Cllr Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, said: “If we want a more prosperous future for Blackburn with Darwen, for our residents, we must invest in growth and this project is a shining example of that.

“From the start, the Board set out to ensure the Town Deal would be truly transformational, including a focus on employment and innovation opportunities.

“And the Town Deal funding has helped make these two schemes at Chapels viable – attracting significant new investment while also protecting and helping create new jobs.

“The £25m we initially secured from Government has been turned into £100m of new investment with private and Council contributions too – a staggering level of new funding for Darwen focused on what really matters.”

Originally set up in 2001, the AMRC is recognised as a UK leader in taking cutting-edge research into real-world industrial improvements, and now connects a network of 70 universities and more than 1,000 businesses.

Cllr Riley added: “Darwen has a proud industrial heritage – once a world leader. The name Revolution Park honours that history and the town’s key role in the first Industrial Revolution, and we want to be at the forefront of the next.

“We’re incredibly ambitious for Darwen and for our borough, and proud to back major investments like this and the Perspex expansion.”

The Darwen Town Deal has already supported other successful growth and innovation projects – including a new HQ for aerospace firm Brookhouse at Balle Street.

Also delivered by the Barnfield Group, that facility is now complete and fully operational.

From left: Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of BwD Council

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development and acquisition at Barnfield Group, said: “We’re delighted to be on site and progressing this important development at Revolution Park.

“This is a prime location for businesses to locate to with easy access to major motorway networks. An AMRC base in Darwen would be a huge coup, and we’re actively marketing the additional new units for sale – with leasing options also available.”

The Darwen Town Deal forms part of BwD’s £1bn vision for the future, which among other things also includes a new East Lancashire Sports Village, the Blackburn Growth Axis and the £250m Blackburn town centre masterplan.

Taylor Weaver and Trevor Dawson are agents for Revolution Park.