Part of car park to close for King George’s Hall works

Half of a Blackburn town centre car park is to be shut for the duration of the £9million renovation of King George’s Hall.

The chunk of the Barton Street car park will be used as a construction compound while the remainder of the upgrade works to the Grade-II heritage-listed entertainment venue are carried out.

The revamp of the currently closed 104-year-old hall are scheduled to finish in 2026.

Blackburn with Darwen Council planning and highways committee on Thursday night has been recommended to approve the car park closure with two conditions.

An officer’s report tells councillors: “This application is presented to the committee given that the application has been made on behalf of the council and the site is also within the ownership of the council.

“This application involves the formation of a temporary construction compound in support of the refurbishment of King George’s Hall.

“The compound area would be formed on the northern part of the carpark with the remainder retained for public parking. “Once the works are completed at King Georges Hall, the temporary compound area would be removed from the car park.

“The main body of the site covers an area of circa 460 square metres.

“An access road to the proposed compound spans the remainder of the carpark.

“The proposed compound would be used in association with the works at King George’s Hall as there is insufficient space for a full compound within or adjacent to the premises.

“The temporary construction compound would contain a subcontractor’s cabin, toilet unit, generator, two exposed waste tanks and cabin pump.

“An office, meeting room, canteen, toilets and a drying room would all be provided within the cabin.

“Storage cabins would also be provided and two-metre high temporary metal fencing would enclose the northern portion of the site.

“The compound would be for the duration of the works associated with King George’s Hall and will have no lasting effect on the car park thereafter.

“Given the complex nature of the refurbishment works at King George’s Hall, it would be impractical to limit the timeframe of this permission by way of planning condition.

“The proposed use and associated structures would not provide any benefits for the visual amenity of the locality, nor the setting of the Northgate Conservation Area.

“That said, the proposed works are required in order to facilitate the refurbishment of a period building that is a well-used asset within the community.

“This is the only suitable site available.”