Smaller units planned for Burnley Bridge after key tenant pulls out (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Smaller units planned for Burnley Bridge after key tenant pulls out

12:03pm Thursday 1st September 2011 in Hapton By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

SUPPORTERS of the Burnley Bridge Business Park have gone back to the drawing board after talks with a key tenant broke down.

Home shopping firm Findel had been in discussions with Leeds-based Eshton over relocating to the former Hepworth’s site in Hapton.

But after a review, as revealed by the Lancashire Telegraph last November, Findel decided to explore other options.

Plans have now been approved for a different approach to the sprawling site, off junction nine of the M65.

Several smaller units will now be constructed, as part of the initial phase of the Burnley Bridge development, and these are now actively being marketed by Eshton.

Coun Anne Kelly, the borough’s development control committee chairman, said: “There was one particular company that wanted a large unit but that is now not going to happen.

“The developer now wants smaller units to make it more attractive to other businesses.”

County highway bosses have not objected to the move, which would be limited to a small portion of the overall business park layout.

Work would still need to be done to build a new access bridge over the Leeds Liverpool Canal, from junction nine, before the majority of buildings are occupied.

The former Hepworth’s site received another setback earlier this year after it emerged that Lancashire Care would no longer be building a £35million mental health unit there.

Around 1,600 new jobs have been pledged once Burnley Bridge is completed.