St John’s development gets green light

Plans for a creative business hub in the former St John’s Church in Blackburn took a major step forward this week, as councillors agreed to appoint Barnfield Construction as contractor for the £8.5million redevelopment.

The St John’s building has stood empty since a significant fire in April 2019 which caused extensive damage.

Since then, the Council has been working to bring the Grade II listed building back into use, securing planning permission in November 2023.

The innovative redevelopment of St John’s will focus on digital and cyber technology businesses, forming a new creative hub with links to the Blackburn Skills Campus coming to the town centre.

High-specification flexible workspaces will be on offer to digital and cyber businesses to take advantage of opportunities linked to the National Cyber Force development at nearby Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

With an impressive 9,500+ square feet of new office space, the revised proposal will closer reflect the church’s original form and architectural style.

Enabling works are expected to begin in March with the main works due to site in the summer with a scheduled completion in early 2028.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member of Growth and Development, commented: “St John’s Business Centre is an integral part of the Skills and Education Campus which is a key strategic initiative in our Local Plan and also the Lancashire Combined County Authority’s Growth Plan.

“A grant of £4million from the Lancashire Combined County Authority has allowed us to accelerate progress.

“I’m delighted that we can now move forward with Barnfield Construction to bring our vision for this historic building to life and look ahead to welcoming the first tenants in the summer of 2028.”

Tim Webber, Chairman and Managing Director of Barnfield Construction, added: #“We are extremely proud to have been appointed to deliver the transformation of St John’s Church into a vibrant new business hub for Blackburn.

‘’This is a landmark building with significant heritage value, and our team is committed to restoring it in a way that respects its historic character while creating high-quality, future-focused workspace.

‘’The development represents an important investment in the town’s digital and cyber economy, and we look forward to working closely with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and partners to bring this iconic building back into meaningful use for the benefit of the community and local businesses.”

Dating back to 1787, the former church on Victoria Street, is a prominent building on the Blackburn town centre skyline, with its recognisable bell tower.