A CRUNCH meeting to decide whether to grant permission for a second £8million office block, completing Blackburn’s ambitious Cathedral Quarter, will take place this week.

The multi-million pound development is to be discussed by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee.

Senior planning officer Alec Hickey said: “The Cathedral Quarter supplementary planning document requires the redevelopment of the area to create a vibrant and attractive area that acts as a stimulus to the long-term regeneration of the town centre and provides the setting for new offices, housing, hotels, shops and leisure uses.

“In response to this objective the proposals aim to create a distinctive and high-quality development that complements such a sensitive historic setting in line with the achievements of the phase one building, hotel and clergy court developments.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “It is a great vote of confidence in Blackburn town centre.

“Eric Wright has made amendments to the design of the office block to ensure it keeps the airy, open and sunny feel of the Cathedral Square.

“Two Cathedral Square will add further vibrancy to the town centre and bring hundreds of high-quality jobs of the type Blackburn needs.

“Completing the quarter will bring economic benefits which spread across Blackburn and the whole borough.”

Developer the Eric Wright Group, which is funding the project, submitted a planning application for the block on the grass next to Railway Road opposite Morrisons store and the Adelphi pub earlier this year.

It will seek potential tenants with a view to completing the building, which will take around 12 months to construct, by 2020.

The new development will offer 30,500 square feet of office space and 5,000 square feet for restaurant, cafe, bar or coffee shop use.

The design will match One Cathedral Square with a glass front looking over the square and a brown stone finished back onto Railway Road.

Mr Hickey added Eric Wright Group had asked for a five-year period for the start of works to enable the developers to secure tenants for phase two given the uncertainness surrounding Brexit and financial implications for businesses.

Discussions have been held with Historic England, which has not objected to the proposal.