DESIGNERS are being sought to draw up £1.2million plans which could help turn Blakey Moor into Blackburn’s version of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has gone out to tender on the project to redevelop the Blakey Moor Terrace in the centre of Blackburn.

The project aims to bring back into use the historic terrace and reinvigorate the cultural, leisure and evening economy around King George’s Hall by providing food and drink outlets.

Lancashire Telegraph:

How Blakey Moor could look once the redevelopment is complete

Council bosses hope to appoint a design team by the end of September, with planning applications due around the middle of December.

Work on site would start in March with expected completion by December 2020.

The preferred option developed to date comprises the redevelopment of the Blakey Moor Terrace for restaurant or cafe use.

As part of the scheme, the council wants to see the terrace repaired and restored to its historic design and split into two double-storey units.

Assistant executive member for regeneration, Cllr Jamie Groves, said Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter had been one of the inspirations for the scheme.

He added: “Obviously it’s on a bit of a smaller scale but that’s the sort of thing we’ve been looking at.

“It’s about the night-time economy and looking and how we can bring more people into the town centre to eat and drink.

“The night time economy is one of the driving forces behind the regeneration of Blakey Moor because we recognise that times have changed.

“Things need to improve and this is fundamental to the whole project around that part of the town.

“King George’s Hall and the new cinema will be at the heart of it and Blakey Moor is also a key part.”

A report commissioned as part of the early stages of drawing up redevelopment proposals states: “Our judgement is that Blackburn with Darwen Council’s strategy of making a major intervention in the Blakey Moor area in order to establish a high quality heritage quarter, featuring a substantial restaurant offer, is correct.

“Investment in the public realm and in smartening up the historic buildings in the area is critical to making a material change to the quality of the environment so that the area becomes an attractive place for businesses to invest.

“Restaurants, bars and coffee shops are not the only elements of any attractive heritage quarter.

“A successful heritage quarter typically also has people living and working there.

“They are normally appealing, as places to live, to people in the pre-family stage of life, and to businesses that like to be in a location with character, atmosphere and convenience.

“The sites, in combination, have potential to create an attractive urban village, sandwiched between the retail core and Blackburn College.

“It might be thought of as Blackburn’s version of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Duke Street has a lot of potential to add critical mass to the village – a key objective should be to stimulate investment there over the medium term.

“The council’s strategy should be to nurture this urban village.

“It should have a name. The name should be extensively used in wayfinding, signage, marketing and public relations activity.

“Blakey Moor would be a good name because it is long-established, and therefore has integrity, and it sounds nice.

“Something like “Blakey Moor Quarter” or “Northgate Quarter” might be an alternative.”

Last year, it was revealed more than £500,000 was forked out for two properties standing in the way of the multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Blackburn with Darwen Council paid the amount to businessman John Khattir for The Godfather takeaway and the neighbouring Blakey Moor Newsagents to kick-start the regeneration of Blakey Moor.

A Freedom of Information request to find out how much the council paid was turned down by the council in May 2018.

But following an appeal, council officers have disclosed the price of the deal was £535,000.