PLANS to create hundreds of new jobs at a new retail and commercial complex opened up by a long-delayed £7million link road have been announced.

Work is expected start later this year on six plots of land covering 4.4 acres along the highway linking Blackburn's £12m 'Bridge to Nowhere' to the town centre.

The scale of the proposed development backs town hall bosses' hopes that the Freckleton Street Link Road, now dubbed Wainwright Way, would attract jobs and businesses when it finally open in February last year.

The bridge its self open in 2008 but problems over the demolition of the 18th Century Police House in King Street, the purchase of the Blackburn Spiritualist Church and relocation of hundreds of graves delayed the highway scheme.

Borough regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, revealed details of the proposals after Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board approved the sale of the land to the Eric Wright Group on Thursday for several hundreds of thousand pounds.

The Preston-based company developed the borough's £34m Cathedral Quarter, built the new £13m Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre ahead of schedule and completed the much-delayed the town's £5m bus station after the original contractor was dropped.

The firm proposes to turn the derelict land into a mix of shops, offices, light commercial units and student housing for the nearby Blackburn College by 2020.

Cllr Riley said the development, which will see the firm invest millions of pounds, would bring more than 200 jobs and much-needed extension to the town centre towards the Wainwright Bridge.

The announcement was welcomed by the borough's Tory group leader, Cllr John Slater and Blackburn and District Chamber of Commerce President Tony Duckworth.

The development will stretch from King Street and Chapel Street down Byrom Street and Freckleton Street towards Perseverance Mill and Canterbury Street.

The developer has agreed to buy all six plots and develop them together at its own risk.

Cllr Riley said: "This is a major development which will cost millions of pounds to build.

"They are talking about a mix of retail, office, commercial and student accommodation.

"It should create more than 200 jobs and hundreds more in the construction phase.

"The development will provide accommodation for businesses seeking to expand in the borough and those wishing to come into the town.

"This land was cleared as part of the work for the link road so we hope work will start this year and the new premises will be built by 2020.

"This is about extending and improving that side of the town centre and creating jobs.

"We always anticipated that Wainwright Way would open up this land for employment and business purposes.

"In Eric Wright we have reputable developer with a strong track record in Lancashire and beyond and who obviously has an interest in Blackburn.

"The firm has already delivered the Cathedral Quarter on time, the Blackburn Sports and Leisure centre well ahead of schedule and completed the Blackburn Bus Station.

"The council is delighted to be able to work with Eric Wright Group once again.

"There is a significant capital receipt for the council as well.

"The land sold does not affect the former graveyard."

Cllr Slater said: "We welcome this sale and proposal that a single firm will develop all six sites together.

"This is viable scheme with a reputable developer in Eric Wright which is providing all the investment and taking all the risk on itself.

"It is an important part of developing the town centre and will bring hundreds of thousands of pounds for the council and increase the business rate yield in the future.

"Obviously we now want to see more detail of the developer's plans, the precise proposals and the jobs being created."

Mr Duckworth said: "It is good news that this much-delayed road will deliver jobs and new investment and develop what is essentially derelict land at the moment.

"It will extend and develop that side of town near the college which is welcome.

"We have waited a long-time but the Wainwright Bridge and its link road are finally starting to deliver some of the promised benefits."

Andrew Dewhurst, of Eric Wright Group’s Maple Grove Developments, said “We now look forward to progressing our development proposals for a range of uses in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

"The plots are very accessible and prominent and we are confident that a high quality development will attract a range of occupiers”