Iceland plans for new Food Warehouse at Blackburn/Hyndburn site

Plans have been submitted on behalf of Iceland for a Food Warehouse at the Peel Centre between Whitebirk and Rishton.

The Food Warehouses differ to a typical Iceland store as they offer ‘a wider range of products than the traditional Iceland store including more premium food'.

They are created in a bid to attract ‘customers who do not currently shop with Iceland and providing opportunities for largely fortnightly and monthly shops.’

Cllr Ken Moss, who represents Rishton on Hyndburn Council, said: “It is positive news.

"In the area now we have the Euro Garages Frontier Park development scheme and also the developments at the Peel Centre recently so it can only be a good thing.

“It is somewhere else to shop and there is the good news of bringing jobs to the area.

“It is far away not to have too much of an impact on other shops in Rishton.

“The scheme would bring tax revenues to Hyndburn and also with the money from Section 106 agreements which will help the area.

“It is much better to see something there rather than having empty units.

“The one thing that we get from members of the public is that they want to see big names coming to Hyndburn and neighbouring areas so this is positive.

“We have seen places like Aldi and other bigger names open and these will bring people to the area whilst at the same time not taking people away from our town centres.”

“Obviously Eurogarages are doing a lot in the area with the Frontier Park development also.”

It was claimed that a recently opened Food Warehouse in Lincoln created 23 jobs and it is planned that a similar number of positions would be available at Whitebirk.

Cllr Vicky McGurk, who represents Shadsworth with Whitebirk on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The money being spent there will not be coming back to the Blackburn economy as it will be for Hyndburn.

“But there is an upside as there could be jobs for Blackburn people. However, there is no guarantee of that.”