EANAM Wharf will become Blackburn’s answer to the Weaver’s Triangle in Burnley if senior councillors designate it a ‘conservation area’ tomorrow.

Council officers have recommended the borough’s executive board gives the area the special status to protect it from ‘significant development pressures’.

It hosted Blackburn’s first Canal Festival in July, hailed an unprecedented success after more than 3,000 people attended the two-day event.

Jackie Whelan, the council’s principal conservation planner, tells the councillors in a report: “Eanam was one of the first areas to develop as an industrial zone after the opening of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal in 1810.

“The Eanam Wharf area comprises a cluster of 19th century buildings, some of which are nationally listed buildings.

“The proposed conservation area is located to the eastern side of Eanam Road and on the north side of Navigation Bridge.

“It forms a triangular piece of land on the fringes of the town centre comprising an historic grouping of buildings which demonstrate good examples of canal architecture and ancillary structures of locally historic significance.”

She highlights the success of the Weaver’s Triangle in Burnley as part of a wider strategy of conserving and boosting the development of the canalside.

The Weaver’s Triangle has attracted the interest of Prince Charles and large amounts of investment, with £1million of work on the second phase of Burnley Council’s ‘On the Banks’ masterplan now under way.

Ms Whelan said: “The canal corridor has unfortunately become a forgotten backwater in recent years and commitment to the conservation area gives more scope to secure future regeneration benefits by accessing heritage grants.

“By designating the conservation area the council will be able to secure better quality developments.”

Council regeneration boss Coun Maureen Bateson said: “The Eanam area includes a number of buildings and sites of architectural significance dating back to 19th century and they play an important part in the industrial history of our town.

“The potential of these canalside buildings and the historic townscape also provides the opportunity to attract new investment and jobs and to promote events and visits.”