Member Article

£3.3m regeneration work in Burnley set to start

The third phase of works transforming Burnley’s Weavers’ Triangle ‘On the Banks’ is set to start early next month, with a £1.3 million public square at Sandygate and a £2 million highway and public realm improvement scheme, to create a welcoming gateway and new public spaces.

The public realm and highway works will enhance the investment underway by Barnfield Investment Properties Limited to transform the Weavers’ Triangle into a unique ‘destination’ for business, living, leisure and education, by creating an public square, public areas, and improvements to traffic and pedestrian flow.

Priority for pedestrian access into and around the Weavers’ Triangle from the town centre and the new Manchester Road Station will be created by providing wider pavements and a new footbridge across the canal.

Partners Burnley Council, Barnfield Construction and Lancashire County Council will be delivering the works, with Barnfield transforming Sandygate Square and the county council delivering the highway and public realm works.

The works are being funded from the Regional Growth Fund, European Regional Development Fund and Lancashire County Council. Works will start early March and are due be completed by September 2014 with traffic diversions in place while work is underway.

The public realm works will create a contemporary feel in and around the Weavers’ Triangle with granite pavements, street furniture and feature lighting along Trafalgar Street.

The highway improvements will greatly improve the traffic flow around the Weavers’ Triangle, and will include: signalisation of the Barracks roundabout; the repaving and resurfacing of Trafalgar Street; the widening of the pavements and traffic calming measures along Trafalgar; signal improvements along Burnham Gate; and a new crossing point at Queens Lancashire Way, giving priority to safe pedestrian access into On the Banks from the new Manchester Road Railway Station and the town centre.

Council Leader Julie Cooper said: “High quality public realm works are proven to have wider economic value, including raised demand for land and buildings in the area, increased property values and the attraction of more investment and visitors.

“The aim of the overall scheme is to attract new investment, jobs and visitors to the ‘On the Banks’ development, and the public realm works will create distinctive public spaces for people to enjoy. Our ambition to create welcoming gateways into Burnley is becoming a reality.

“The Knowledge Quarter Princess Way gateway is a wonderful example of what can be achieved and the council will continue working in partnership with the private sector to transform Burnley and its prospects for economic growth.”

County Councillor John Fillis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Towns and cities are changing, and with the era of out of town commercial centres and the internet we need to create places that people want to visit, to enjoy their leisure time in an environment that is welcoming, distinctive and interesting.

“The County Council is committed to improving the competitiveness of Lancashire’s towns and cities and has been working closely with Burnley to deliver projects that will bring considerable economic benefits to the town, helping to attract new business and jobs, as well as improving the look of the area overall.”

Gareth Smith, Project Director for the scheme on behalf of Barnfield said: “We are very pleased at the progress that has been made by all partners. The infrastructure in and around the On the Banks development is of paramount importance and whilst delivering key assets is of primary importance we cannot forget the role that good public realm and infrastructure has to play.

“The development shows how true collaborative working can really benefit and bring forward socio and economic benefits for businesses and residents alike.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .