The former Blackburn MP, Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, has just formally opened One Cathedral Square, located in the heart of Blackburn and the £80 million Cathedral Quarter regeneration scheme.

This spectacular new office building, providing 28,127 sq ft of Grade A office space above ground floor restaurant and leisure units, forms part of the wider regeneration scheme positioned between Blackburn railway station and the town’s Cathedral; providing a new thoroughfare into the town centre itself and the recently extended Mall Shopping Centre.

The event marked the completion of the £30 million development by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackburn Cathedral, Maple Grove Developments, the Homes and Communities Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.

Designed by internationally renowned Architects, BDP, One Cathedral Square provides top quality office space arranged over five floors of 5,800 sq ft each, which are available to let at a rent of £15.00 per sq ft per annum exclusive. Delivered by Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Council, the scheme also includes a new 60-bed Premier Inn Hotel, associated car parking, together with the new landscaped piazza, which in time will be host to numerous events running throughout the year.

Chief Executive, Harry Catherall, commented: “We have had significant interest in the office space from various firms wishing to upgrade their space into this brand new facility. Our partners have presented a most magnificent development around the Cathedral with this office designed to a specification not matched anywhere in Lancashire.”

In declaring the building open, the former Blackburn MP, Jack Straw, added: “This new development has transformed Blackburn, giving it the feel of a city. The vision of the Council and its various partners, who have been instrumental in delivering this, should be applauded.”

Agents for the office space are Knight Frank (0161 833 0023) and Trevor Dawson (01254 681133) Agents for the restaurant and leisure units are Bradys (0161 839 1213) and Cushman & Wakefield (0161 837 3555)