New images show how Blackburn’s St John’s church in the town centre could be transformed into an impressive new Innovation Hub. 

The artist impressions have been shared for the first time as part of a new planning application for the Grade II listed building, which was extensively damaged by a devastating fire in 2019.  The application sets out detailed plans to develop the landmark building into a high quality, sustainable work space – providing offices, meeting rooms and more as part of a new Tech Innovation Quarter.

The impressive 9,000sqft of new office space will be spread over four floors – with a proposed new roof space – and is part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ambitious £250m Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan, including a new Business Innovation District.

St John’s Church, which sits within the Richmond Terrace and St John’s Conservation Area, dates back to 1788 and was used as a place of worship up until 1975 when it closed and was later transferred to Council ownership.

The development is ear-marked to be part of the first phase of the Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan – part of the Council’s £1bn vision for the future – with the new CGIs showing how that whole area could be transformed.

The new office space, within the Tech Innovation Quarter, which also links to the neighbouring Making Rooms, boasts 20 new office units and pods together with co-working space and meeting rooms.

You can see the image here First-look at how Blackburn’s historic fire-hit church could be transformed | The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News

The planning application for St John’s Church can be viewed by clicking here.

You can read more about the skills and education campus and Blackburn with Darwen Council becoming a new Government Levelling-Up Partner by clicking here.