WORK is set to start on the first part of the £3.8m regeneration of Blakey Moor.

Borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said work is set to start this week on 35 Northgate in Blackburn, last open as Baroque but formerly known as Gladstone’s and The Ribblesdale Hotel.

Earlier this month, a £91,000 grant was the first awarded under the five-year Blakey Moor Townscape Heritage Project which aims to revive the area with a network of cafes, coffee houses and bars alongside public spaces for residents and visitors to relax.

Cllr Riley said: “Next on the agenda is the other work that’s going to happen down Blakey Moor.

“This is a long-awaited piece of Heritage Lottery Fund work.

“The construction team will be on site at the Baroque pub this week – that’s a heritage piece of work to bring that back to something like a Victorian appearance.

“Then there will be public realm work down Blakey Moor and then of course we will start in the Blakey Moor terraces as soon as we have secured possession of all of the components of that.”

The scheme aims to restore Blakey Moor Terrace, Northgate and Lord Street West, bringing 25 vacant properties back into commercial use, and give a facelift to King George’s Hall.

The Townscape Heritage Grants Panel is an independent group of volunteers who will oversee the allocation and approval of the £3 million funding secured to deliver the heritage-led regeneration project.

Jointly funded by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project will see up to 25 heritage buildings restored over the next 4 years including the Blakey Moor Terrace and properties on Northgate and Lord Street West.

The £91,000 grant awarded to 35 Northgate will enable the Council to undertake essential structural repairs, conservation works to the external brick and stonework and restoration of the original timber framed windows.

An additional £70,000 from the council will match the grant funding to complete phase I and see the property brought back to its former glory.