THOUSANDS of jobs could be created at a new multi-million pound business and recreation park on the border of Blackburn and Hyndburn, it has been revealed.

As many as 2,000 skilled workers could be hired to work on a new 98,000 square metre mixed-use development that has taken years to come to fruition.

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A hotel built alongside a restaurant or pub, and a coffee shop complete with drive-through are planned as part of the new development beside the Old Mother Redcap pub in Blackburn Road, Intack.

It will run adjacent to junction six of the M65 motorway on a 36-hectare site, and will also house warehousing, industrial units, and offices.

The move has been widely welcomed by community leaders, who said the jobs would provide a vital boost to the local economy.

The proposals, unveiled by commercial property developer and investor Praxis, will now be shown off at a public exhibition at the Red Lion pub, in Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, from noon until 8pmon Tuesday, February 24.

Director and head of asset management at Praxis, Gabriel McLaughlin, said: “Against the backdrop of a tough economic environment, we are developing plans for a mixed employment development site that will act as a major boost to the local economy with the creation of 2,000 jobs of significant benefit to the local community.

“We are keen to ensure the local community has the opportunity to comment on the scheme and to help develop something we’re all proud of and that fulfil our objectives of attracting inward investment and creating a range of jobs for the area.”

Praxis hopes to receive planning permission by July and be on site working before Christmas, spokesman Gabriel McLaughlin said.

Further details on the type of hotel, restaurant, and coffee shops have not yet been decided, although the hotel will be aimed at tourists, something Blackburn with Darwen Council has been striving for for some time.

Head of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council , Cllr Maureen Bateson, said: “Although that site is in Hyndburn, it’s of massive importance to Blackburn with Darwen.

“Getting the site developed and bringing jobs into the area is good news.

“Anything that brings jobs in we would welcome, and we are working with Hyndburn Council on this project.”

Hyndburn’s Labour MP GrahamJones said both he and Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson have been pushing for the new development for years.

He said: “Miles and I have driven this forward.

“We have been determined to make this happen and now people can see real progress is being made.

“This is part of our strategy to build the industrial estate.

“It’s been a challenge to pull the land assets together and I’m delighted we have reached a point where Praxis is putting out a vision for the future.”

Cllr Parkinson said the council would expect Praxis to turn the site into a manufacturing hub and not simply a storage site employing unskilled workers.

He said: “What we do require is that, while all employment is welcome, we need skilled workers.

“We want this site not just to be warehousing — which is fine — but to bring skilled workers in because their salaries will be higher, and that feeds back into the local community.

“I would like to see manufacturing businesses which actually make things, not just storage businesses.”

Cllr Parkinson said he hoped the new complex would entice firms to move into the area.

He said: “To be successful, they will be encouraging businesses looking to expand and bringing in firms from outside the local area.

“There is financial help available from outside organisations, like the Growth Fund and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, so there’s funding available to lure firms in.”

The estate would be primarily accessed from Burnley Road roundabout, and also from Blackburn Road, although access there will be restricted to use by buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.