A major Darwen firm is to move into a brand new headquarters being built on the site for a former Victorian Mill in the town creating 60 new jobs.

Brookhouse Aerospace hopes to move into its new office and factory late next year while keeping its current premises in the grounds of India Mill.

The firm's new HQ is being built by Barnfield Construction at Balle Mill in Balle Street using grant support from the Darwen Town Deal.

The new investment will help retain 100 jobs in the town and will pave the way for more than 60 new ones over the next five years.

The 41,650sq ft Balle Mill site has been brought forward with support from the £100m Darwen Town Deal to help cement the businesses’ long-term growth plans.

The company's chief executive Matthew Rossiter said: “The new development with its additional floorspace, is key in supporting Brookhouse Aerospace’s long-term growth strategy, creating additional capacity and space for expansion.

“The purpose-built facility will aid lean manufacturing principles, whilst also supporting the company’s environmental commitments to reduce its carbon footprint and wider social responsibilities.

“With close proximity to our existing manufacturing sites, the new development will retain over 100 jobs within the Darwen area and represent the new head office for the company.”

Tracy Clavell-Bate, head of development at Nelson-based Banfield Construction which bought the site in 2012, said: “It’s great to be on site delivering this new facility for Brookhouse Aerospace – it couldn’t be in a better location for them.

“Completion of the build is expected in the summer of 2024.”

Wayne Wild, Chair of the Darwen Town Deal, said: “The focus of the £100m Town Deal has always been to kick-start the transformation of Darwen.

“We want to use the £25m secured from Government to unlock as much further investment.

“This includes creating as many new jobs as we can while, of course, working hard to safeguard what we already have.

“I’m really pleased that funding from the Town Deal has helped bring forward the Balle Street site so it can be developed, offering Brookhouse Aerospace the space it needs to be able to achieve its growth ambitions while still in our town.

“They were presented with several viable opportunities, some of which were outside of the Darwen area. as they were struggling for the right space and so this is a real coup.

“This is a fantastic business which we’re really proud to be home to in Darwen and we can’t wait to see their new HQ.”