Orchard Mill demolition moves step forward

A key step has been taken towards the demolition of Darwen’s Orchard Mill former Perspex plant.

James Industrial Ltd has asked council planners whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed before any planning application to knock down the industrial buildings on the 6.5 acre Duckworth Street site prior to any redevelopment.

Perspex International vacated the complex as part of its relocation for the centralisation of its manufacturing operations at its Chapels Park hub in Darwen.

The firm’s move is based around the creation of a new £40million Polymerisation Hall and Energy Centre at the main site off Goose House Lane – the first stage of a five-year job creating investment programme in the town.

It then marketed the land of the now redundant industrial complex – which includes part of the original mill building – for redevelopment.

Now James Industrial Ltd has applied for an EIA screening opinion for the ‘demolition of the former mill/industrial complex’ to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The site had been used for the manufacture of Perspex – a clear acrylic sheet – for more than 80 years.

A supporting statement says: “The application site extends to circa 2.6 hectares of previously developed land within the urban area of Darwen.

“The site is fully developed currently with buildings and fixed surface infrastructure.

Historically the site/complex was used for the manufacture of Perspex but has been vacant and disused for a number of years.

“There is a current prior notification application for demolition with the local planning authority.

“That application is accompanied by a Demolition Method Statement.

“As a previously developed urban site the scale of the demolition works does not lead to a significantly greater scale of new

development (directly or indirectly) and would not involve a markedly different nature of development or associated impacts.

“The demolition works will not generate significant or wide-ranging environmental impacts during the operational phase.

“Nor will the physical condition of the demolition site generate significant environmental impacts pending redevelopment proposals.

“The local planning authority is requested to issue an EIA screening opinion that the demolition works do not constitute

EIA Development and that EIA is not required.”

A Blackburn with Darwen Council heritage assessment says: “The modern industrial site is of little or no value.

“The remnants of the older mill largely obscured by modern development.

“Some retained sections of stone and brick boundary walls remain on the southern boundary to the site – Vale Street.”