Plans have been approved for a major new commercial development in Blackburn that will act as the new HQ for international forecourts operator Euro Garages.
Planning consultancy PWA Planning has helped Euro Garages to secure planning permission for a new office building, along with two adjacent drive through restaurants.
The scheme, close to Euro Garages’ existing offices on the Beehive Trading Park, is expected to create around 300 jobs, 260 of them full-time posts.
The three-storey building, on a currently vacant site next to Fishmoor Reservoir at Haslingden Road, would enjoy views over the reservoir.
The proposed office block will have an internal area of 8,335 square metres and will feature private and open-plan offices, meeting and conference facilities, a staff canteen, external terraces and balconies.
Zuber Issa, CEO of Euro Garages, said: “This new development will support our continued plans for expansion while allowing us to keep our HQ in Blackburn. Not only does this benefit our existing staff, it will support our aspirations to create new jobs in the town.”
Emily Robinson, senior planner at PWA Planning, said: “This will be a significant development for the town. It will deliver new economic growth opportunities in line with Blackburn with Darwen’s aspirations for the wider allocated Waterside employment site.
“We worked closely with Euro Garages, officers at the council and other local stakeholders to secure a positive outcome and we look forward to seeing this development starting on site soon.”
Euro Garages was founded by Mohsin and Zuber Issa in 2001 after the brothers bought a filling station in Bury. It now has more than 330 sites across the UK and works with major brands like Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, Greggs, KFC, Subway and Spar on its retail and restaurant operations.
In October 2016, Euro Garages merged with European Forecourt Retail Group (EFR) creating a group with 1,450 locations and 8,500 employees across Europe.
PWA Planning continues to work with Euro Garages on planning matters for several of its new-build forecourt sites across the UK.
