Blackburn with Darwen Council set to buy Thwaites brewery site

It has teamed up with Maple Grove Developments Ltd, part of the Eric Wright Group, to pay for the purchase and regeneration of the seven acres of cleared land.

The site on Penny Street in Blackburn town centre has been empty since 2018 and will cost several million pounds to buy.

The new partnership will look at a range of redevelopment options ­— from commercial development through to leisure uses or new houses and flats.

The site’s future use has long been a concern to the council which in 2012 was involved in a tug-of-war with Thwaites over the company’s plans to sell it to Sainsbury’s for a superstore, which were later abandoned.

The brewery left the Star Brewery in 2018 for its new complex at Sykes Holt in the Ribble Valley after travellers invaded and trashed the buildings, which were demolished by 2020.

Eric Wright has worked with the council on several major regeneration projects in Blackburn including the Cathedral Quarter, completing the new bus station and the sports and leisure centre.

The borough’s executive board will on Thursday next week be asked to authorise the creation of the new partnership, The Maple Grove Joint Venture, to buy the site and prepare it for a multi-million pound redevelopment.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “This is great news for Blackburn town centre.”

His Conservative group shadow Cllr Paul Marrow said: “I hope they have plans for this very large and important site and are not just buying it on a whim.”

If approved, the council and Maple Grove will work to create a renewal strategy for the land through a new joint venture company.

The plans would preserve the historic Fleece pub on the edge of the site.

Cllr Riley said: “The joint venture will ensure we can facilitate comprehensive development across the former Thwaites site and other council land assets.

“It should bring in millions of pounds of investment. With town centres changing we will be looking at all options from commercial through leisure to town centre living.

“Thwaites has a long-standing history with the borough, of which we are very proud. Thousands of our borough’s residents and family members will have worked or will know someone who has worked for Thwaites over its 200 years. We want to preserve those links and recognise the legacy they leave with the borough.

“This plan also demonstrates the council’s strong commitment to brownfield regeneration and will also help us to preserve the historic Fleece pub. This project is crucial to the borough’s post-Covid recovery and I look forward to seeing it progress.”

Jim Francis, property director for Daniel Thwaites, said: “We are particularly pleased to be working towards securing new owners for our old brewery site in Blackburn, who can realise its potential for the future and create a new era for it in its central position within the town.”

Andrew Dewhurst, development director for Maple Grove, said: “We look forward to bringing our expertise to this flagship site.

“We have a longstanding relationship with the council and are proud to be playing a part in attracting new opportunities to the area.”

Simon Jones, growth programme director for the council, welcomed the joint venture approach and said “The council is excited to be helping to bring this major opportunity forward and deliver on one of our new 'Big Six' initiatives from our emerging local plan.”

Cllr Marrow said: “I hope they have proper plans for what the brewery site is going to be at a time when town centres are changing fast.”

Redeveloping the site is one of the key projects in Blackburn with Darwen Council’s draft new Local Plan which is open for consultation until February 19.