Steven Abbott advises Blackburn on planning framework

Independent town planning consultancy, Steven Abbott Associates, has been appointed by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to undertake a number of studies for the borough's Local Development Framework.

SAA will analyse Blackburn and Darwen town centres and review ethnic shopping needs in Whalley Range / Victoria Road local centre to inform the area's growth policy. The practice will also update the current quantitative needs assessment for further shopping provision across the borough.

The town centre health checks will include researching and analysing a number of factors including, diversity of retail space, capacity for growth, rental values, vacant units, floor space distribution, retailer representation, environmental quality, crime and safety, and accessibility of existing facilities. SAA will also commission a number of on-street surveys in order to gauge current customer opinion of the retail provision in Blackburn and Darwen.