Burnley Council appoints BDP as lead consultant on ambitious new masterplan for Town Centre
Burnley Council, in partnership with key stakeholders the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Burnley Football Club, have appointed BDP as lead consultants to develop an ambitious new masterplan for Burnley Town Centre and the adjoining Weavers’ Triangle area.
The previous masterplan for the area, which was completed over 10 years ago has guided much of the town’s growth over the past decade, and helped secure funding which has seen the development of the new Manchester Road Railway Station, the new town centre public realm transformation, Burnley’s Knowledge Quarter, incorporating the University and College Campus and the new Vision Park development, and the mixed use OntheBanks scheme in the historic Weavers’ Triangle, which has seen the transformation of the fringe town centre canalside area providing a unique business, leisure and waterside housing offer.
The new masterplan will take into account changes in the national and local economy and in the retail and leisure trends markets, complementing the recently published Local Plan Proposed Submission Document, which sets out a high growth strategy for the borough, with new sites for aspirational housing and extensions to the successful business parks along the M65 corridor.
Council Leader, Mark Townsend says: “A key part of the borough’s growth strategy is to enhance the town centre offer, which is a significant retail, leisure, service and learning centre for much of Pennine Lancashire.”
“We were delighted to announce the opening of Primark in Burnley Town Centre early 2018 and the new masterplan will develop a focussed strategy going forward to promote the ongoing potential in Burnley’s town centre, unlock further development, attract new businesses and residential development and help to secure external funding to fund the next phase of plans.”
Adding: “Burnley has a reputation for getting things done and has a strong package to offer investors. We are growing above national trends and have been identified as a boom town with all the ingredients needed to grow by economic experts. We want to keep being creative, doing things differently and creating new experiences to take the town forward and the masterplan will us achieve our objectives.”
BDP will work with their identified partners, BE Group and Urban flow to form a multi-disciplinary team bringing together urban planning, transport planning, design and architectural skills, with a strong collective knowledge of commercial markets and commercial development.
Doug Metcalf, Stadium Manager, Burnley Football Club said: “Burnley Football Club is pleased to be working in partnership with Burnley Council. The Club is planning significant investment in its stadium in relation to the Premier League Accessible Stadia works, which are due for completion by August 2018. Turf Moor sits on the edge of the town centre and the masterplan should identify synergies to ensure the town benefits from having a Premier League club on its doorstep.”
A formal launch of the new Masterplan is expected to take place early in 2018.