Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based Eric Wright Group, has lodged a joint planning application with Blackburn Cathedral for a £25 million scheme which will transform Blackburn town centre. A decision on the application for the Blackburn Cathedral Quarter development is anticipated by November 2012.
A partnership between Maple Grove Developments, Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the 118,000 sq ft development will comprise a hotel, restaurants, shops, new bus interchange, 37,000 sq ft offices. A Clergy Court will house the Dean and Canons and lay staff in a building adjacent to Blackburn Cathedral which will also include a new refectory, library, conference facilities and offices; the first such building to be built in its entirety since the 1500s.
Maple Grove Developments are in the final stages of negotiation with a national hotel chain which will operate the 60-bed, six storey hotel.
Blackburn Cathedral Quarter is part of a 15-year plan to regenerate Blackburn town centre which includes the completed £66 million Mall shopping centre.
Architects on the office element of the scheme are Building Design Partnership. Purcell designed the hotel and clergy building and Planit designed the public realm.
Letting agents on the office element of the development are Knight Frank. Brady Chartered Surveyors are acting on the hotel and on the retail and restaurant space.