More than 200 business and community leaders heard the future vision for Blackburn and Darwen at an event.

The Partnership Conference at Ewood Park on Wednesday (March 22) aimed to bring together a range of partners from different sectors across the borough to learn about the council’s plans for the next four years.

Guests were welcomed by the chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen council Denise Park and Cllr Phil Riley, leader of the council.

The conference included breakout sessions based around the core missions identified in the council’s new corporate plan which sets out a series of visions from 2023 to 2027.

Speaking to the audience Cllr Riley said Blackburn with Darwen was the ‘biggest in the borough’ and there were huge opportunities as the area continued to grow.

He told of how housing development was an ‘obvious thing to do’ to help keep aspiring young people in the area.

He said: “If you don’t grow then you go backwards. That is certainly true in the world of urban development. 

“We are pleased to be growing.

“The new housing is attracting people and people are moving into the borough from neighbouring places and further away because it is a nice place.

“Whilst we are the biggest borough in Lancashire we are a unitary authority which is hugely important.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

He went on to share details of major forthcoming projects including the development of new industrial space near Belthorn - a planning decision on which the council was waiting for with ‘bated breath’.

He added that the borough had a ‘huge entrepreneurial base’ in which to tap into.

He said: “The reason we are having this event is because it is time we refreshed our sense of purpose.

“The idea that we want to be a more prosperous borough that leaves nobody behind is a set of words but it means something. The whole of job of us as a council, is to make it mean something.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Council leaders said they had a lot of engagement from residents. There was also a mention of moving away from a time when everything relied on saying 'how deprived you were to get money' but more about opportunities and finding new ways to invest and grow the borough.

Ms Park said: “We would like think these can become regular events where we hear from different partners, their experiences and their ambitions. Where we share the challenges and look at the opportunities for the future and where we can work together.”

Ms Park mentioned how the council remained committed to a number of aims and objectives including a focus on ‘growth and prosperity’, ‘looking to the future’ and wanting to see ‘healthier, happier and safer communities.’ There was also a major focus on ‘climate change and environmental concerns.

She added: “We will also update on a new stakeholder bulletin we are planning to launch off the back of the event.”