Eric Wright delivers £30m Blackburn regeneration project

Phase one of a multi-million pound, 200,000 sq ft commercial development in the heart of Blackburn is now complete.

Preston-headquartered building firm Eric Wright Construction, part of Eric Wright Group, has completed the first stage of Blackburn Cathedral Quarter, a mixed-use scheme comprising a 60-bed Premier Inn hotel, six-storey office block and a piazza-style public square complete with restaurant and parking facilities.

The regeneration project, which took two years to complete, is being developed by Maple Grove Developments (also a division of Eric Wright Group) in partnership with Blackburn Cathedral and Darwen Borough Council, with backing from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Maple Grove Developments director Andrew Dewhurst said: “Blackburn Cathedral Quarter represents seven years of hard work and has transformed a key gateway into Blackburn.

“The project is an excellent example of private sector businesses working in partnership with a local authority to deliver a significant urban regeneration scheme.”

He continued: “It will create considerable advantages for the town including inward investment and increased financial benefits from an enhanced night time and visitor economy.

“It has also created a high-quality business hub in the heart of Blackburn that will deliver much-needed jobs, with One Cathedral Square being the first Grade A office building to be completed in the town centre for 20 years.”

In March this year, Maple Grove Developments presold the 32,000 sq ft office block, One Cathedral Square, to the property arm of financial services firm Legal & General for £9.1m.

The Premier Inn hotel and 3,500 sq ft restaurant, meanwhile, were sold in September on behalf of Lancashire County Pension Fund to Knight Frank Investment Management for £4.8m.

Cllr Phil Riley, executive member for regeneration, commented: “This is a real milestone for Cathedral Quarter and for the regeneration of our town centre.

“Over the last few years despite the tough economic climate we’ve stuck to our commitment to drive forward several major investment projects and I’m delighted to see these plans coming to fruition.”

He added: “Cathedral Quarter alongside the other schemes such as the new leisure centre is contributing to an almost complete transformation of our town centre so that we can be confident we have a vibrant and modern environment to welcome visitors, shoppers and potential new investors. It’s also going to provide a boost to local employment by creating jobs.”

The HCA’s executive North West director, Karl Tupling, called the completion of phase one “great news”.

He said: “HCA has been working in partnership with the Council on the Blackburn Cathedral Quarter scheme for over 5 years.

“At the start of the project the HCA invested £5.1m of public funding, which acted as a catalyst to help unlock the fantastic development which we now see today.”

“Blackburn Cathedral Quarter has helped to transform the town centre and is a great example of regeneration and successful place making.”

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