First look at plans for Blackburn's Cathedral Close

9:11am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter

An artist's impression of the cloisters An artist's impression of the cloisters

THIS is how Blackburn’s new Cathedral Close, complete with cloister garden and refectory, will look in three years time.

The new images of the religious heart of the development have been released as borough councillors prepare to consider the ambitious £25 million Cathedral Quarter proposals in the run up Christmas.

While the overall scheme will provide the town centre with a 60-bed hotel, glistening new office blocks and a restaurant, church leaders have incorporated an area for clergy, staff and the public to enjoy quiet and reflection.

The plans, submitted to Blackburn with Darwen council last month, include the first full set of Cathedral Close buildings and Cloister Gardens for 570 years, putting Lancashire’s pre-eminent church building on the same level as great Medieval complexes like Durham and Chester.

The project wraps a new suite of church buildings, housing all the clergy and staff accommodation, refectory or clerical restaurant, offices and function ‘State Room’ round a medieval style ‘Cloister Garth’ (or Garden).

There will also be a covered cloister-style glass-walled walkway along the fourth side situated next to the Nave and South Transept of the existing structure.

It will be open to the public on weekdays and part of Sundays but in evenings will allow clergy, staff and guests an open area for quiet prayer, rest, and meditation just as the monks did in medieval times.

Comments(10)

forever-a-blue-jean says...
9:50am Thu 4 Oct 12

I dont like that design, it wont enhance the area, surely we could find a more fitting design?

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tenerc says...
9:53am Thu 4 Oct 12

will the plans also include a parking space for the van which parks on the cathedral grounds, at the side of Whittakers shop.

i`ve mentioned this many times in the cathedral, but it still parks there.

the cathedral puts up signs asking US to respect the grounds, yet do nothing to stop the van/s

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jimpy0 says...
10:04am Thu 4 Oct 12

am sure a mosque would look better there and be more in keeping with the towns profile

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buckoff says...
10:06am Thu 4 Oct 12

tenerc wrote:
will the plans also include a parking space for the van which parks on the cathedral grounds, at the side of Whittakers shop.

i`ve mentioned this many times in the cathedral, but it still parks there.

the cathedral puts up signs asking US to respect the grounds, yet do nothing to stop the van/s
Get a life or do you own the land its parked on.

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cathedral citi says...
10:09am Thu 4 Oct 12

I think the Plans need to be looked at a little closer, keeping in mind that, once the structure is in place, and allowed time to weather, will it blend in with the existing structure?

I can picture it. It looks rather quaint!

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cathedral citi says...
10:14am Thu 4 Oct 12

jimpy0 wrote:
am sure a mosque would look better there and be more in keeping with the towns profile
Silly Pratt!

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jimpy0 says...
10:18am Thu 4 Oct 12

even the golf of last weeks ryder cup had a mosque -- oooops sorry that was the club house - a fancy cathederal and associated buildings will not stop white flight

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l m h jones says...
10:46am Thu 4 Oct 12

vile carbuncle looks like a cheap hotel on the spanish coast

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Ladysadie says...
1:08pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Once again I say "get a life!" Blackburn builds cathedral.....mosque blah blah. Empty shops in Blackburn.....mosque blah blah. Gay pride parade.....mosque blah blah. Seriously, why don't u join a mosque if they are all you can think about, it's like the men who "hate gays" quite often turn out to be gay themselves! You beat Asians around the head for not integrating yet you want to move so you don't have to live near them. White kids are removed from schools because their parents don't want them to play with Asians. This was supposed to be about cathedral close which, incidentally, I think looks awful in the new plans.

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MerlinTheVoiceofReason2 says...
1:57pm Thu 4 Oct 12

I would have to agree with those who question the design of this. It looks simply cheap and out of keeping with its surroundings. The article mentions Chester and Durham as comparisons yet I cannot for the life of me envisage this design getting the go-ahead in those cities. There are architects out there designing some lovely buildings in traditional market towns and villages that blend in well with their surroundings. The Cathedral people should speak with the architects who have designed Booths recent stores, as I think they've done an excellent job. And no, I am not connected with Booths or their architects.

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