Does anyone else think we have enough industrial units? These steel and concrete monstrisities are springing up everywhere. Should the council not be making sure that the dozens of empty units are occupied before allowing more to be built. How long has the walkersteel building been empty? can it not be converted to smaller units? With new units on goose house lane can we not have more parks and green spaces? When's the last time you heard of a new park being commissioned?

Geoff909
you are no more than 10 minuets from any green part of Darwen
there are only 4 main manufacturing plants left in Darwen and 2 of them are downsizing shortly
We nsorely need any type of buisness that will bring employment into Darwen

Manufacturing in this country is sadly a thing of the past, if as you say, two of the main players are downsizing how does this indicate an INCREASE in the requirement of such units. I have no problem with construction of new facilities providing there is a need for them. However there are so many of these type of units sitting unused that there must be a better use for the land. Literally round the corner the Fresco Oils and Fats site is standing vacant, there are empty units on Watery Lane and half the units behind the railway station are empty. As for employment, there is plenty of work out there for those who are prepared to make an effort.

Hello

I work for the company who are constructing these units. I don’t know if you are aware of the area but the development is being built on Springvale Rd, which is an industrial area. The building that was there before was old and shabby and in need of much repair. The landlord felt that the spot would be better served with brand new industrial units. The area will be landscaped and well kept and maintained up to a high level. The planning permission which has been granted is light industrial and does not allow tenants to disturb people in the residential area.

We are hoping to attract new and young businesses and offer them competitive rates and rent free periods which will enable them to get into the market place, thus encouraging employment into our town.

Geoff909, I hope that you do not strongly object to these units. The land cannot really be used for anything other than industrial. We could build offices or housing on there, but we know that if we did that they would be empty. As far as thinking that these units will be empty, we have had quite a bit of interest and have leased one already, and the steel framework has not even erected. The government have put things in place to discourage people from building industrial units, offices and housing by charging rates if the properties are unoccupied for a certain amount of time. So, this is not something we have taken lightly, the company have invested a lot of money in this development and are only using the best materials available.

As far as the empty units already around, and you mentioned Walker Steel and suggested that the units should be made smaller. The units that we are building are small units, ranging from 484sqft and 2196sqft.

I personally would be glad that we have people investing in our area, and that we have people who trust in our economy at what is thought to be a fragile time. There is nothing that we could put in that area that would improve it visually. I’m sure that you would agree that a park would be a stupid idea – I couldn’t think of anything worse than my children playing on a park in the middle of an industrial area, across from the tip, where there is quite a lot of trucks, wagons etc in and out of the area.

Tanya