Plans for a £25m scheme that will transform Blackburn town centre have reached a major milestone.

Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based Eric Wright Group, has lodged a joint planning application with Blackburn Cathedral for the ambitious Blackburn Cathedral Quarter scheme. A decision on the application is expected by November 2012.

This latest development in the project follows years of partnership working between Maple Grove Developments, Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), to bring the development to fruition.

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The 88,000 fq ft (8,175.20 sq m) development will comprise a hotel, offices, restaurants, shops, a new public square and bus interchange, and a Clergy Court which will house senior members of the clergy and lay staff adjacent to Blackburn Cathedral.

Maple Grove Developments is in the final stages of negotiation with a national hotel chain that will operate the 60-bed, six storey hotel.

Andrew Dewhurst, Director, Maple Grove Developments said: "The lodging of the planning application follows years of strong collaboration between the four partners who have enabled this scheme to reach this important stage. We hope that, following granting of the planning application later this year, work will commence on site in 2013 and will be completed by mid-2015."

(CD)