Darwen one step closer to £3million youth centre
The steel frame for the new £3.3million Darwen Youth Centre has been lowered into place as work on the key development progresses
The steel frame for the new £3.3million Darwen Youth Centre has been lowered into place as work on the key development progresses.
The structure offers a first actual glimpse of the scale and design of the new town centre building.
The upgraded youth hub which will be double the size of the centre it replaces with the addition of a brand-new first floor.
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s leader Cllr Phil Riley and his deputy and growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood were on hand to see the steel frame lowered into place by a giant crane.
The scheme is one of five young people’s centre across the Blackburn with Darwen to benefit from more than £8m of grants from the government’s Youth Investment Fund topped up with borough council cash.
Cllr Mahmood said: “We have big ambitions for the future of our borough – for our towns and for our residents – and our youngsters are an incredibly important part of that.
“It’s fantastic to see these works progress – the demolition phase has now been completed, and the steel frame is being lifted into place, showing just how much bigger this facility will be than what was there previously.
“Impressively, when it’s finished, this new centre is set to boast everything from gaming zones to a creative workshop space, a recording and DJ studio, and upgraded sports facilities too.
“It’ll be a place that young people will want to go to – where they can learn new skills and be inspired.
“This is exactly what the young people of Darwen deserve.”
Cllr Riley, also chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, added: “Darwen is benefitting from huge amounts of new investment – with more to come – and we know it’s crucial that there are opportunities within that for our young people.
“We’ve already seen the huge difference this funding can help make, with the extension of Blackburn Youth Zone and the Fuse Box project there, which is seriously impressive.
“Here in Darwen, I can’t wait to open the doors to the new youth centre and show our young people the end result.”
The stretch of Knott Street where the youth centre stands was renamed Gary Aspden Way.
Whilst the work is underway, youngsters can access sessions at the Darwen Youth Zone on Railway Road and at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre (BRIC).
Car parking at Darwen Railway Station and Atlas Road remain free for the duration of the works.