BOSSES at Daniel Thwaites have announced the firm’s proposed move to a new site in the Ribble Valley is now ‘on hold’.

The news has prompted calls for the brewery to look again at staying in the town.

The 200-year-old brewery revealed in June 2014 its plan to relocate to Sykes Holt at Mellor Brook, just off the A59.

A review has been launched into the move after concerns were raised over ‘significant infrastructure costs’ to develop the new site by company officials. Other undisclosed locations are also being looked into.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Mohammed Khan immediately urged the company to look again at relocating in the borough, an option previously rejected before announcing the move to Sykes Holt.

His plea has been backed by MP Kate Hollern and her predecessor at Westminster Jack Straw.

The review comes after a planning application was submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council to demolish the brewery in Penny Street.

Thwaites Chief Executive Richard Bailey said: “This application is the first step of our planned development of the site, however the process is likely to take a number of years.

“It forms part of our planned move out of Blackburn Town Centre to a new site.

“We are reviewing our proposed move to Mellor Brook.”

The company signed a deal with rival Marston’s worth £25.1m to sell most of its beer division earlier this year and the total investment in the move out of Blackburn is believed to be around £10m.

Speaking when the company’s annual results were published, chairman Ann Yerburgh said: “It remains our intention to move our offices, brewery and horses away from Blackburn Town Centre to allow us to realise the value of our 7.2-acre town centre site.

“Discussions with Blackburn with Darwen Council regarding the redevelopment of our site continue, however there are currently no acceptable or deliverable solutions to report.

“We are resigned to the possibility that it may be some years before the regeneration of the town creates the right environment for us to dispose of our interests and allows us to reinvest the proceeds in a more productive fashion.

“While discussions with Marston’s were under way we had a period where work on our new site at Mellor Brook slowed down.

“Our site at Sykes Holt remains an option, but there are significant infrastructure costs to develop it.”

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “I would be hugely disappointed if the move did not happen.

“It would be tragedy for this iconic East Lancashire brand if they were to completely outsource their manufacturing to a company that has no links to the area at all.”

Cllr Khan said: “I hope Thwaites will now look again at relocating in the borough if they are having problems with the relocation to Ribble Valley.

“I and the council will do whatever we can to accommodate the brewery.”