A FAMILY home interiors company is to make a major expansion by taking over the premises of a former car dealership close to its current store, creating 15 new jobs.

Blackburn Tile Centre is to move from its current showroom into the one-and-a-half acre site on the other side of Copy Nook in Pendle Street vacated by Blackburn Motor Park in June.

Managing director Mohammed Sidat said the expansion represented a ‘massive investment’ for the company founded by his father Ahmed in 1984.

He declined to give a figure for the cost of the move, which is expected to run into six figures.

Blackburn Motor Park closed suddenly.

Now Blackburn Tile Centre is to move from its current 2,000 square foot premises on the junction of Higher Eanam, Higher Audley Street and Copy Nook into 15,000 feet of showroom space in April. The new site has 87 car parking spaces.

The deal for a long lease was concluded with landlords the Adhan Group of Preston New Road, Blackburn, earlier this month and the tile centre bosses are now working on the design and fittings of their new home.

Mr Sidat, whose family firm also runs a sister showroom in Finsley Gate in Burnley, said: “This will be a massive investment. We are all really excited.

“It is a big expansion and we hope to have more than 20 staff compared to the current five.

“It’s going to be a state-of-the-art showroom and one of the largest in Lancashire. We will have separate sections including bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and floor coverings.

“There will also be a much bigger department for professionals such as architects, developers and interior designer as well as local traders such as plumbers, tilers and joiners

“We are working with architects and designers on the the new showroom and hope to open in April.

“We will not be trading under Tile Centre but rebranding for our new site. We will be offering customers a bespoke service.

“When this is finished we shall be looking at expanding our sister Burnley Tile Centre into a warehouse we own next door. We have yet to decide what to do with our existing premises which we moved into in 1992.”

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss, said: “This is good news all round. It is a well-established Blackburn firm expanding and creating new jobs."

“It is also a new and productive use for a key site on a a major gateway to Blackburn town centre.”

John Paul, sales director for the Adhan Group, said: “We are pleased to have let this important site on a very long lease. Blackburn Motor Park had to exercise the break clause in its lease due to commercial difficulties.”

Mr Mohammed’s four brothers are also involved in running the family company.