Plans revealed for key employment site

Development proposals have been revealed for a major site in Central Lancashire, with a focus on employment uses and the potential to create about 2,000 jobs.Lancashire County Council and its development partner Maple Grove Developments, part of The Eric Wright Group, are preparing proposals for the Lancashire Central site at Cuerden.It represents a new and updated vision for the employment site.The project aims to bring forward “significant” economic and employment benefits for people in Lancashire.These include the generation of hundreds of job opportunities over the construction phase of the development and the creation of about 1,900 jobs once operational.New employment space, provision for other commercial uses and 116 additional homes are also planned.Infrastructure investment, environmental infrastructure and a design which will include a number of sustainability initiatives also feature.Also included is a multi-million pound investment essential to Lancashire’s emerging long-term strategy, Lancashire 2050. This will also support the county’s post Covid-19 recovery and the government’s Levelling Up agenda.A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks.If planning permission is granted, and depending on the planning and development process, work could begin on the initial infrastructure works later in the year.