Blackburn’s Tithebarn challenge thrown out

PRESTON City Council’s leader has expressed his delight that the latest in a long-running series of obstacles to the £700m Tithebarn town centre scheme has been overcome.

The High Court in Manchester today upheld Secretary of State Eric Pickles’ decision to allow the huge retail scheme, which is being led by developer Lend Lease, to go ahead following a public enquiry which concluded in November last year.

Preston Council leader Cllr Peter Rankin said: “We are delighted that the court has upheld the decision of the Secretary of State to allow the Tithebarn development to go ahead.

“Our focus now is working with developers Lend Lease and Lancashire County Council to take Tithebarn forward, in what is a difficult economic climate.

“There is still a lot of work ahead, including raising the necessary finance and assembling the land.

“But now we have the planning permission, we can move forward with renewed energy and positivity to meet the challenges ahead to deliver the Tithebarn development and the investment and new jobs it will bring.”