TWO new industrial warehouses are proposed for a 17.2 acre site formerly used as brick and then electricity works.

The 'speculative' units are planned for Prime Point Phase 2 at the junction of Hollins Grove Street and Hollins Road in Darwen.

Acornfield Properties Limited wants to build the warehouses of 95,799 and 117,057 square feet on open land near Junction 4 of the M65.  Supporting statements submitted with the planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council say: "The proposed site is located adjacent to both Hollins Grove Street and Lower Eccleshill Road in Darwen.

"The site, currently serves no use, as it is an area of open land with two access routes, which are dormant.

"The surrounding site area is predominantly industrial units and lies approximately 800m from Darwen town centre.

"The site is considered to be within a sustainable location close to various transport links, shops and local services.

"The proposed site has a total gross development of 6.98 hectares (17.24 Acres).

"The application is for the erection of two industrial units.

"The site is situated within a three-minute drive of both the M65 and the A666.

"The site is situated adjacent to a new industrial scheme compromising of two units.

"There are good access routes to the site from Lower Eccleshill Road / Hollins Grove Street.

"Historically the site was used to as a brick works and an electricity works.

"The brick works was present from the late 1800s until the early 1900s.

"The electricity works and cooling towers were present between 1961 and 2010.

"The proposed development is for two detached warehouse facilities with parking.

"The site was used to house filter beds and tanks for sewage works, "The site is currently exposed earth with areas of shrubs and a treeline that follows the boundary with Hollins Grove Street.

"The proposed development will provide significant employment potential to the area and will significantly improve the vista to the front of the site, off Lower Eccleshill Road "The client of this development is committed to ensuring the development employs best practice sustainable design principles.

"This will be achieved through the prioritisation of highly efficient building materials and construction techniques such as maximising levels of insulation, optimising levels of air tightness, good practice junction detailing to reduce thermal bridging, best use of natural lighting "As the development is currently a speculative development, further sustainable design principles will be considered at detailed design stage."