STEELWORK has gone up for the next stage of the Issa brothers' Frontier Park development near the M65's Junction Six and Whitebirk roundabout.

The move follows the letting of all the so far completed warehouses and industrial units at the £100million business park on the Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn border.

The steel framework is now being erected for a further 300,000 square foot building for the manufacturing and logistics market.

It will offer between two and five units of between 40,000 sq.ft and 150,000 sq.ft ready for occupation later this year.

Building work is being undertaken by Brierfield-based Barnfield Construction under a strict social distancing regime for workers.

The development is being undertaken by Monte (Blackburn) Ltd owned by the EG Group's Mohsin and Zuber Issa.

Caroline James, of letting agent Trevor Dawson, revealed that first phase of the scheme, with more then 400,000 sq ft of warehouse and manufacturing space, is now fully let.

It complements Euro Garages £6m service station on the site.

In the summer a 150-bedroom Hampton by Hilton Hotel is due to open.

Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: "This is welcome good news. We need to keep investment and the economy going for when this health crisis ends."

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council growth boss, said: "This is a ray of sunshine in dark times. We are lucky to have the Issa brothers based in the borough."

Ms James said: “The completion of the first phase clearly demonstrates the Issa family’s commitment to the local area and economic growth in the North-West.

"It has been an exciting twelve months which will continue with the next phase of development”.