Eshton Group - Mixed-Use Development - Burnley Bridge Business Park, Burnley
Date: 01 Jul 2009
Proposals for a pioneering business park by Junction 9 of the M65, which will create up to 1,600 new jobs, have been approved by Burnley planners.
The 70-acre Burnley Bridge Business Park, which is being developed by Leeds-based property company Eshton Group, is located on the former Hepworth's site at Pollard Moor on the outskirts of Hapton and Padiham.
The plans have been passed by Burnley Borough Council, subject to Highways Agency conditions.
James Chapman, the managing director of Eshton, commented: "This is a massive regeneration scheme for the Burnley region, which will have significant benefits for the local economy and community, especially in these challenging economic times.
"Burnley Bridge Business Park is a long-term commitment by us to the region. It will revive the old Hepworth's site and provide sustainable employment in an excellent strategic location," he explained.
"We are working closely with the Highways Agency to ensure that planning conditions are met," he added.
The £48 million flagship business park will comprise 680,000 sq ft of mixed-use employment space, including large industrial units of up to 400,000 sq ft. It will primarily seek to attract light industrial and distribution-based occupiers. There will also be offices, a convenience retail store, crèche and hotel.
James Chapman commented: "We intend to work closely with the local community throughout the development process. One of the key objectives of the development is to make significant improvements to the site access.
"The site is adjacent to the M65, which makes it an ideal location for most business uses. However to gain access, vehicles currently have to travel through Hapton or Padiham. Retaining the current access would mean additional vehicles and an increase in HGV movements through these villages.
"Constructing a bridge across the Leeds Liverpool Canal will provide a direct link to the M65. This will help to reduce traffic levels on the surrounding roads network," he explained.
Steve Rumbelow, Burnley Council's Chief Executive commented: "The huge investment made in the purchase of the Hepworth site and the plans for its transformation into a state of the art business park by the owners and developers, Eshton Property Developments, reflects a major confidence in Burnley.
"The town's central location with easy access into the national motorway network, surrounding Pennine Lancashire countryside, and the economic vision Burnley has set for its future, was influential in Eshton's decision to invest in this site. The council looks forward to working with Eshton to attract new businesses and jobs to Burnley."
Burnley Council Leader, Gordon Birtwistle said : "This is a major investment in Burnley's future that will create hundreds of new jobs for the borough and a sign that despite difficult national economic circumstances, there are instances when Burnley can buck the national trend."
In a major boost for the development, Burnley Bridge Business Park has been selected as the preferred location for a new mental health unit to serve East Lancashire by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. The new unit will provide acute in-patient treatment for people with dementia, severe depression and other mental health problems.
Councillor Margaret Lishman, deputy leader and lead member for Health at Burnley Borough Council, said: "This is great news for Burnley. It will help to ensure that the Burnley Bridge Business Park development takes place and the hospital itself will bring between 400 and 500 good quality jobs to Burnley."
The agents for the development are Dove, Haigh Phillips of Leeds and Trevor Dawson of Blackburn and Burnley.
Mike Dove, of Dove, Haigh, Phillips commented: "Over the past 18 months Eshton Property Development have achieved a remarkable feat of vision and commercial confidence which will create the largest new employment/business park to emerge within the Pennine Lancashire - M65 corridor for many years.
"Eshton have completed a complex programme of site ownership assembly and site investigation which has involved a comprehensive master plan for a thriving business park to be developed.
"The scheme, Burnley Bridge Business Park, has unrivalled access to the M65 at the western gateway to Burnley town centre. Up to 680,000 square feet of high quality business space will be provided, set within a carefully designed and managed environment. Burnley Bridge offers a quantum leap in the quality of industrial and distribution space now available to the new economy of the M65 corridor.
"Burnley Bridge is a remarkable project where occupiers will benefit from bespoke solutions close to a labour pool with impeccable logistics connections.
"Eshton Group's core values are stability, permanence and quality. These have been recognised by all major stakeholders in the Burnley and Pennine region who have already awarded this project the status of Strategic Development," he added.
Burnley Elevated CGI
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