THE first of 68 apartments situated in the former Lancashire Telegraph offices in the heart of Blackburn are now completed and available for viewings.

Three show apartments will be available to view via booked appointments from this weekend with rental prices of between £525-£625 per calendar month.

Currently available to view is a studio with private bathroom, available for £525pcm, a one-bedroom flat with bathroom at £575pcm and two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment for £625pcm.

Water bills and Wifi are included in the monthly rental price and a parking is available at an extra cost.

The first tenants will be expected to move in to the flats in August when the rest of the building is completed. This is two months later than planned, as intentions were originally set to get the first tenants moved in for June.

Just three months ago developers announced intentions to increase the number of apartments in the building from 66 to 68, in plans which Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley described at the time as a “game-changer” for the town centre.

He said: “I’m really excited about the prospect of the introduction of some town centre living. It will change the way people see Blackburn and the town centre.”

It is also understood that the properties will prove popular with overseas students coming to the North West to study.

Cllr Riley added he understood the developers had received a lot of interest from people keen to live in the development.

In a statement submitted as part of the application, Lynne Sadler of DLP Consultants, said: “Residents will have access to car parking facilities, with 60 car parking spaces provided within the basement of the property and external yard.

“A bin storage area is to be provided in the external yard and the underground car parking facility has sufficient room to accommodate cycle parking if required.”

There is a strict booking-only policy for those interested in viewing the apartments so interested renters should book a viewing by searching for High Street, Blackburn, on purplebricks.co.uk