(see Section 4 of the Growth Plan)
In 2023, Stantec consultants identified a strategic pipeline of Anchor and Complementary Projects that support Lancashire’s ambitions for economic prosperity, competitiveness, and connectivity. These employment sites and associated infrastructure form the backbone of Lancashire’s medium to long-term growth strategy. While Anchor Sites represent the most large-scale, transformational opportunities with national or regional significance, Complementary Sites play a vital supporting role by enhancing regional employment, regeneration, and sectoral development. Many are directly linked to the wider projects outlined in the Growth Plan.
Anchor sites
| Site | Growth Plan linked project | Description of opportunity |
|---|---|---|
|
Blackburn Growth Axis / Employment C Cyber Skills Campus (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Blackburn Cyber Skills and Education Campus | A mixed-use scheme in Blackburn Town Centre’s eastern area, delivering new retail, commercial, residential, community, and education uses. The key commercial (employment) elements focus on office use, including the provision of business and technology workspaces for low-carbon, green and renewable industries. This will include the redevelopment of St John’s Church and the Former Markets Site and has the potential to create in excess of 700 net additional jobs |
|
Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and Silicon Sands | The 144-hectare site, positioned across both Blackpool and Fylde local authorities, benefits from Enterprise Zone status and is connected to the North Atlantic Loop, a subsea internet cable connecting northern Europe and the US in less than 64 milliseconds. The major employment sites are the Eastern Gateway (10.5ha), focused on a mix of sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy and digital, alongside Silicon Sands (10ha), which will focus specifically on digital, data, technology and energy due to its excellent digital connectivity. Together, they are expected to create up to 2,000 new jobs |
| Burnley Bridge and Burnley Bridge South | n/a | Located to the west of Burnley Town Centre, the opportunity consists of two sites on either side of Junction 9 of the M65. Together, they are the largest employment site along the M65 corridor. The site has outline planning permission for 60,000m2 of B2 and B8 commercial space. Initial development has focused on logistics; however, the remaining site will focus on medium-sized manufacturing businesses, which could create more than 800 net additional jobs |
|
Burnley Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan Employment Sites (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Burnley Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan | The ambitious masterplan aims to transform key employment sites in the town centre, including Place de Vitry (0.6ha), Vision Park (5ha), and redevelop Green Street Mill (7,500m2) and Calder House. The developments aim to support growing indigenous businesses and inward investment requirements, and have the potential to generate over 700 new jobs across key Growth Plan sector priorities |
| Heysham Gateway | Heysham Nuclear Power Stations | Directly linked to the coastal village of Heysham, the site seeks to use its proximity to the Port of Heysham, Morecambe Bay and Nuclear Power Station to act as a hub for a wide range of energy storage and generation projects |
| Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone Expansion | Hillhouse Clean Energy C AI Data Centre and Hillhouse Energy Infrastructure | Located to the west of the River Wyre and south of Fleetwood, the project will expand the Enterprise Zone through adjacent industrial areas including the Port of Fleetwood (77,000m2), Fleetwood Dock and Marina (36,400m2), Copse Road (20,000m2), Hillhouse (510,000m2) and Fisherman’s Friend (36,000m2). Employment use will focus on B2, B8 and E(g) |
| Lomeshaye Extension (Phase 2) | n/a | The project will extend the existing Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, located west of Nelson, which accommodates the majority of the borough’s major industrial premises. This will address a lack of modern high- quality industrial units in Pendle helping retain and attract new businesses, supporting employment growth |
|
Preston Station Quarter (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Preston Station Quarter | Centred around Preston Station, the scheme includes the development of four quadrants: Station East, County Hill, University Walk and Station West. Alongside residential development, the site has the potential to deliver 500,000m2 of new Grade A office space as well as associated commercial space (e.g. FCB and retail). The new space would support growth of significant research, innovation and knowledge-based sectors (digital, cyber, innovation and STEM subjects), complementing existing engineering and knowledge-based assets |
|
Samlesbury Enterprise Zone (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Samlesbury Enterprise Zone and Innovation Hub | Samlesbury EZ, located to the east of Preston and adjacent to BAE Systems, one of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions companies. The site will support growth in the Advanced Engineering Manufacturing, cyber and sci-tech sectors, through collaboration with Lancashire’s key universities and strengthen the local supply chain in these sectors |
|
Warton Enterprise Zone (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Warton Enterprise Zone and Altitude Facility | Covering 74.5ha, also situated close to BAE Systems but to the west of Preston, new B2, B8 and E(g) employment space for advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses |
| Cuerden Strategic Site (Lancashire Central) | n/a | Located north east of Leyland, and west of the M6, the site has the potential to create in excess of 4,000 new jobs in a variety of sectors over the medium to long-term through the delivery of office, RCD, industrial and storage and distribution uses |
Complementary sites
| Site | Growth Plan linked project | Description of opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool Central | Blackpool Central Leisure Development | Located in the heart of the resort, adjacent to Blackpool Tower and incorporating land on the famous Golden Mile, the c.6ha site represents an opportunity to develop a new, exciting and unique tourist attraction with world-class facilities |
| Junction 5, M65 Strategic Employment Site | n/a | A c.38ha site located to the south-east of Blackburn comprises three parcels. Two parcels are allocated for development in the Local Plan (total c.22ha), with the remaining c.16ha safeguarded for after the local plan period |
| Hyndburn Growth Development Pipeline | n/a | A c.240ha cluster of employment and housing sites in Hyndburn, running along the M65 between Blackburn and Padiham. The sites will continue to be developed throughout the Growth Plan period, building on the success of Altham North, Frontier Park and Junction 7 |
| Central Lancaster C Canal Quarter | Lancaster Canal Quarter Regeneration Scheme | Redevelopment of the 20ha, historic Central Lancaster area and Canal Quarter, building on existing heritage assets such as Lancaster Grand and Dukes Theatre. Regeneration focuses on strengthening Lancaster’s sub- regional position (North Lancashire and South Cumbria) by enhancing the city’s cultural offer and delivering new complementary residential and commercial development |
|
Eden North C Central Morecambe (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Morecambe Sea Front and Eden Effect | The Eden North project represents a generational opportunity for the town to reimagine itself and regain its capacity as a nationally significant tourist destination. The project will facilitate the regeneration and diversification of uses (leisure, culture, retail) in the wider town centre, including the re-use of vacant buildings and spaces, and new developments |
| South Lancaster Health Innovation Hub | Lancaster Innovation Hub | With Phase 1 of the Lancaster Health Innovation Campus completed, there is a base for health-based investment in the area. The next phase(s) will target attracting and collaborating with businesses in the medical, science, research and other associated sectors, to support innovation and economic growth |
| Botany Bay Business Park | n/a | Development of the 4ha Botany Bay Business Park comprising 10 buildings, with 33 commercial units across B2, B8 and Class E use classes, supporting logistics, manufacturing, professional services and RCD uses |
| Skelmersdale Town Centre Phase 2 | Skelmersdale Town Centre Masterplan | The 2.3ha town centre will build on the opportunity associated with the planned development of an additional 1,000 new homes in Skelmersdale, deliver a mix of new housing by delivering new visitor accommodation, leisure and FCB for Phase 2 of the masterplan. This builds on recent investment in the Tawd Valley Centre |
|
Springfields site (Growth Plan Major Project) |
Fylde | This site is crucial for nuclear fuel manufacturing and supports the development of High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) for next- generation reactors. It is central to the UK's nuclear supply chain and export strategy |
| West Craven Business Park | n/a | A 10.9ha extension to the existing business park on the border of Pendle and Yorkshire, creating new accommodation for existing firms looking to grow or helping to attract new businesses in the advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors |
| Junction 4 Green Business Park, including Solar Farm White Moss | n/a | Development of a 4ha energy-efficient, low-carbon business park to the south of Skelmersdale. The site will provide workspace for up to 45 businesses across manufacturing, RCD, tech and warehousing. Includes proposed 7MW Solar Farm on adjacent land |
| A56 Growth Corridor | n/a | Covering a 2.5km stretch of the A56 from Rising Bridge to Rawtenstall, the four sites, totalling 20ha, will accommodate businesses requiring a large footprint, meeting demand for manufacturing, distribution and office space |
Additional sites
(not included on the Stantec employment site list)
The following sites, while not included in the original Stantec employment site list, represent examples of significant opportunities for housing-led regeneration and town centre transformation. They contribute to Lancashire’s Foundations for Growth by enhancing liveability, connectivity, and inclusive development.
| Project | Lead organisation | Contribution to Foundation for growth |
|---|---|---|
| Huncoat Garden Village – delivery underway | Hyndburn Council | Delivery of 1816 new, high-quality homes across 178 hectares of land including 52 hectares of derelict and unused brownfield land. The objective is to transform the local and wider housing market using garden village principles including the provision of an expanded primary school, a new local centre meeting amenity needs, provide for 24 hectares of accessible and functional open space, provide new and enhanced sports facilities as well as provide improved links to major transport links including M65 motorway and train network |
| Regeneration of Accrington Town Centre – delivery underway | Hyndburn Council | Transformation of Accrington Town Centre including the restoration and repurposing of some key, historic buildings. In addition, redevelop areas including a broader mix of uses including residential, retail, non-retail uses alongside new high-quality spaces. The catalyst for change will be the transformation of three key heritage buildings around the town square |