A NEW education and enterprise park in the shadow of Burnley’s £81m college campus could bring 400 jobs to the borough, councillors have been told.

Work on the partnership project, behind the Princess Way campus, is progressing as a replacement site for Burnley’s household waste is built at Heasandford, ready for completion by next June.

Supporters of the scheme, who include borough MP Gordon Birtwistle, will try to attract leading digital technology, aerospace and advanced engineering firms to the site.

Up to 130,000 square feet of development will be made available and assistance is set to be given to fledgling firms, with graduate start-up companies being a priority.

Later this month a bid will be made to the European Regional Development Fund (EDRF) by the project’s sponsors, which include the borough council, Burnley College, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and the outgoing Northwest Development Agency.

If backing is given to the initiative then a private sector partner for the park will be sought next summer.

Nearly £1m has been secured for a study into creating a new ‘gateway’ into the town along Princess Way and town hall officials and consultants DTZ are undertaking a demand review for the concept.

Coun Martin Smith, regeneration cabinet member, told a full council meeting: “The project team is working closely with UCLan to develop the enterprise centre concept with a view to applying for EDRF funding.”