PLANS have been revealed to turn a patch of derelict land in Darwen into job-creating industrial units.

The development would be on 4.7-acre site at Chapels Park South off Goose House Lane.

The scheme would be a collaboration between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Brierfield-based Barnfield Construction Ltd.

It would see the building of approximately 40,000 square feet of industrial space on derelict ‘brownfield’ land.

Senior councillors will be asked to approve the sale of the plot to Barnfield Blackburn Ltd, the joint venture responsible for successfully putting together a project to develop 100 new homes, a careers hub and light industrial units on another ‘challenging site’ between Milking Lane to Greenbank Terrace in Lower Darwen.

The land sale is due to be rubber stamped by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board tomorrow.

It will also approve a further injection of town hall cash into the joint venture company with a guarantee that upon sale of the industrial units the council will receive the first profits.

The item being considered by the executive board says the former mill site is heavily constrained in terms of access and overhead power lines crossing the land.

While Barnfield was prepared to develop the land themselves, officers recommend councillors that the joint venture would have the best chance of winning government grants towards the cost.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “This is a good scheme to develop a difficult site which has been vacant for around 20 years. We feel the joint venture with Barnfield is the best way to do this following their success with the Lower Darwen Paper Mill site off Milking Lane.”

His Conservative shadow Cllr Paul Marrow said: “I am pleased something is being done with this site but am worried if the joint venture with Barnfield will get the council the best deal.”

Darwen East Liberal Democrat Cllr Roy Davies said: “This is good news but I am concerned about the mount of traffic it will generate.”

A planning application will be submitted next year with the first units expected to be completed by 2023.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development for Barnfield Construction said: “It is great to be rolling out a second project through the joint venture partnership. This is a great development opportunity and a massive benefit to Darwen, providing workspace and safeguarding jobs for the area.”