THWAITES brewery’s move from Blackburn to the Ribble Valley has taken a massive step forward as work starts to prepare the final plans for submission within weeks.

The detailed work on the scheme by the special project team follows a massive public consultation exercise.

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The move from Blackburn town centre’s historic Star Brewery has been considered for more than two years but was only given the final go ahead in January.

More than 150 residents packed the firm’s flagship Millstone Hotel in Mellor to see the first detailed images of how the multi-million pound development at nearby Sykes Holt may look.

Chief executive Rick Bailey unveiled a specially-prepared masterplan with illustrative ‘design cue’ images giving the first impressions of the appearance of the new head office, brewery, and stables buildings may look.

He reassured worried Mellor Brook residents that the traffic and disruption caused by the development off the A59 would be far less than first feared.

Mr Bailey also promised the new rustic-style buildings would have a ‘light and airy feel’ sympathetic to the surrounding countryside.

The masterplan, prepared by Blackburn architects Campbell Driver Partnership, is now being fine-tuned by the project team for submission to Ribble Valley Council within weeks for construction by the end of next year, The consultation event fulfilled a promise by Mr Bailey to involve residents in the planning process.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “This progress is great news.

“It is a case of cheers all round.”

Mr Bailey said yesterday: “This is a major investment for us in a great location.

“We want to develop a head office, brewery and stables that are sympathetic to the surrounding area.

“We’ve now got initial impressions of the exteriors of the buildings which have a modern, light and airy feel.

“I think people have been surprised by how small our buildings’ footprint will be on the site.

“We have considerably reduced our brewing operations over the past few years which is the primary reason we want to move.

“We are pleased with the reaction we have received so far. The community has been very welcoming and hopefully, now we have shared our initial plans, we have allayed any concerns.”

Thwaites, founded in 1807, originally announced their controversial plan to move from their historic Star Brewery in Penny Street Blackburn to Sykes Holt in September 2014, put it on hold in August last year and gave the go-ahead for a slimmed down project in January.

John Greaves, chairman of the Samlesbury Action Group which represents Mellor Brook residents, said: “We have been somewhat reassured about this development by our discussions with Thwaites.

“We have withdrawn our formal objection to the project but will be carefully monitoring its progress through the planning process.”

The project team, which involves building firm Barnfield Construction, will submit the final proposal for consideration in early summer.

A specialist transport plan is also being prepared.

Mr Evans, president of the all-party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: “I am looking forward to seeing the final plans and Thwaites coming to Sykes Holt.

“Their presence will be a boost to the economy and tourist attractions of the Ribble Valley.

“They have fulfilled their promise to consult with residents and I am delighted that this company will be continuing their brewery tradition and history in East Lancashire.”

Thwaites estates director John Draper said: “We had a great response to our information event.

“We wanted to give local residents the earliest opportunity to see what we are proposing so we can take on board their comments before we finalise our proposals.

“We had questions about traffic and our brewery operations but we were able to provide detailed insight into how our operations had changed over recent years and travel surveys we have done to help us with our plans.

“We also had residents who were keen to get us involved in the local community.”