New plan to shape future of Blackburn Railway Station

Blackburn with Darwen Council has commissioned a new long-term plan to shape the future of Blackburn Railway Station and the surrounding area.

The council has appointed engineering, design and planning consultancy ARUP to carry out a study looking at how the station can be improved to better serve residents, businesses and visitors, while supporting wider investment and regeneration plans for Blackburn town centre.

The updated vision will look at ways to make Blackburn Railway Station a more attractive and welcoming gateway to the town, building on regeneration projects already planned or under way.

Those include the proposed Star Square development on the former Thwaites Brewery site, the neighbouring Tech Innovation Quarter and investment in the Cultural Quarter, including the multi-million-pound transformation of King George’s Hall.

ARUP will update the Blackburn Railway Station Master Plan and develop a Strategic Outline Business Case, which will set out early-stage opportunities and help build the case for future investment.

The work builds on the original Blackburn Railway Station Master Plan by Seed Architects in 2017 and will focus on improving station buildings, the concourse and nearby public spaces.

It will also examine better links with public transport, walking and cycling routes to create a more accessible transport hub.

The study comes as the council continues to back improvements to rail connectivity across the borough.

Separately, work is under way to assess the feasibility of a new railway station in Blackburn with Darwen, with Ewood and Lower Darwen identified as priority locations after public consultation.

Funding for the development of a new station has been identified as a priority within the Lancashire Combined County Authority’s Local Transport Plan.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Transport Lead for the Lancashire Combined County Authority, Councillor Phil Riley, said: “Blackburn Railway Station should be a gateway we can all be proud of.

“It is one of the first things people see when they arrive in the town, and it has a key role to play in how Blackburn grows and connects with the wider borough and beyond.

“This is about being ambitious for Blackburn with Darwen – looking at how the station can work better for residents, businesses and visitors, while building a strong case for future investment.

“We are already seeing significant investment across the town centre, and this work will help ensure our railway station is fit for the future and supports Blackburn’s continued regeneration and growth.”

The plan will be developed with Network Rail, which owns the station, Northern, which operates train services, the Lancashire Combined County Authority and Community Rail Lancashire.

For more information on investment in transport in the borough and advice on getting around, the council says visitors can go to the Blackburn with Darwen Connect website.