Big plans for Blackburn site home to Newman Footwear factory for 80 years

Bill Jacobs
·2-min read

Plans have been submitted to redevelop the remainder of the site of the former Newman Footwear factory site.

Russell Heaton wants to build 13 job-creating industrial units on 1.41 acres of land in Garden Street, Bank Top, Blackburn. He has previously created 30 self-contained light industrial units and another commercial building and two yards on the footprint of the former factory under a planning permission granted in 2018.

Newman’s Footwear stood on the site for more than 80 years. It was the largest slipper factory in Europe in 1920 producing120,000 pairs of slippers, sandals and casuals a day.

Around 120 jobs went as Newmans, one of the last East Lancashire shoe firms, stopped manufacturing at the Blackburn factory in November 1999.

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A supporting statement submitted with Mr Heaton’s planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council says: “This application seeks permission to erect 13 industrial units with ancillary storage yard on the proposed site to the east of Garden Street, Blackburn. The proposed site is 1.41 acres and is identified in the Blackburn with Darwen Council’s adopted Local Plan as a ‘Secondary Employment Area’.

“The proposed units will be accessed via the existing access off Garden Street created in the previous development Previously, the site was occupied by a large commercial factory (Newmans Footwear) which stood on the site for more than 80 years. This factory was demolished in recent years.

“A portion of the site has already been developed by our client. This development was classed as ‘Phase 1. This proposal consists of the second phase (‘Phase 2’) of development. Currently this area remains unused.

“The immediate surrounding area is made up of commercial buildings with a retirement village directly across the road on Garden Street. The proposal seeks to redevelop the remaining unused portion of the site with a scheme comprising of a unit and an ancillary industrial yard

“The Industrial Unit covers a floor area of 999 square metres. It is currently intended that the unit will remain as one open unit however, the unit could be split into up to 13 74 square metre units in future depending on the end users’ requirements.

“The proposed development would contribute towards building a strong, responsive and competitive economy.

“There would be a number of jobs created within the site. The new unit will be of modern typical steel portal frame skeleton with lightweight insulated steel cladding to walls and roof.

“The remaining site is intended to be used as an industrial yard with space for material storage.”

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