A NEW retail park approved for the centre of Blackburn will cost £30million and will open by Easter 2004.

Manchester-based Henry Boot revealed more details of the scheme after being given planning permission last month to create a 12-acre retail park on the site of the Nova Scotia Mill, off Bolton Road and Russell Street.

Leading DIY chain B&Q is poised to take the largest unit on the new site, a 150,000 sq ft warehouse.

Three smaller units with a total floorspace of 35,000 sq ft are being marketed as bulky good retailers, such as electrical stores. A spokesman for Henry Boot said today that there had been interest expressed by national names.

Construction work on the development, which will front on to the A666, will start in June 2003, subject to detailed plans being submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee, which has so far approved the scheme in outline.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Substantial highway improvements will take place to Grimshaw Bank, Russell Street and Bolton Road ahead of the new development to ensure traffic flow is maintained."

It is hoped the new complex will open in time for Easter 2004.

The spokesman added the project will cost £30million.

"Henry Boot Developments and the council have worked closely to finalise the scheme which will provide some 300 new jobs and continue the regeneration of this area which is such an important and busy gateway into Blackburn."

It will be the third retail park to open in the Townsmoor area of Blackburn.

Peel Holdings operates the largest site, including Asda, Matalan and Halfords, while a second retail park, Townsmoor, includes Time Computers and Blockbuster.

The decision by B&Q to open in the town centre has been welcomed by councillors and the chamber of trade.

Under the council's local plan, which designates future use for every piece of land, retail developers can only open in out-of-town sites if they can prove there is nowhere suitable for them in the town centre.

Steve Hoyle, assistant director of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "It is important that the town centre continues to grow and change, and that we do not create new threats for it, such as out-of-town shopping, when those shops could just as easily slot into the town centre."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration, said: ""We welcome this major new investment and the creation of 300 new jobs for the borough.

"This development is one of a number of important schemes essential for the continued regeneration of Blackburn town centre and shows the growing business confidence in the area.

"The council has worked closely in partnership with Henry Boot to bring the project forward and meet key aims and objections to assemble and deliver vital sites like this for redevelopment."