PLANS for a £10million business park across two neighbouring boroughs today received an enthusiastic welcome.

The 15-acre Trident Park will sit alongside junction six of the M65, on the Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn border at Whitebirk.

Modern industrial units, attractive canalside office blocks and car showrooms will be included on the site, which will be accessible via Whitebirk Drive, close to the existing Peel retail park.

The project has been the subject of a long-running dispute between Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn Councils.

Blackburn with Darwen feared that unless the developments on the 'mixed use' site were carefully controlled, it could start to attract shoppers who would otherwise go to Blackburn town centre.

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "This announcement is good news. It will obviously create new job opportunities and represents a significant investment for the borough.

"We had concerns about the type of development which takes place on the site, but what is being proposed does seem good."

The main concern was over a planned health and fitness centre, which Blackburn with Darwen Council believed would be better in a town centre.

Uses on the site have now been detailed by Nelson-based developer Barnfield Construction as offices, industrial units and car showrooms.

Nigel Rix, director of Hyndburn First, Hyndburn Council's regeneration arm, said today: "This project is an important development for Blackburn and Hyndburn, and we have been working closely with Blackburn on it.

"Success in the past has meant that there are fewer development opportunities so this obviously opens up a lot of new land. It will create a lot of new jobs and is a significant investment."

Mark Taylforth, property director of Barnfield, said: "We are delighted work is under way after an extended period of planning negotiations. Barnfield are involved in developments throughout the country. But we have made a conscious decision to keep our base in East Lancashire where our business has flourished.

"East Lancashire is a thriving area. It offers good transport routes and communications, a skilled labour force, and the availability of grants and support from local authorities.

"It is becoming increasingly attractive to companies wishing to expand or set up their business in the area."

Barnfield Construction is one of the leading industrial and commercial developers along the M65 corridor.

Over 10 years, it has been involved in more than £100million of development between Colne and Preston, including the Network 65 Business Park at Burnley and the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate in Nelson.