New jobs from derelict Haslingden land

Date published: 13/06/2008

DERELICT land on the outskirts of Haslingden could provide a jobs boom for Rossendale.

Land next to St John's Stonefold CE Primary, off Rising Bridge Road, has been purchased by Lancashire County Council's economic development unit.

And plans are drawn for an office complex, featuring up to 11 units, for small and medium sized enterprises, which could generate dozens of jobs for the borough.

The unit's commercial arm, Lancashire County Develop-ments Ltd (LCDL), has been behind the acquisition of the empty former industrial site.

Previously LCDL has been a prime mover in the Adren-aline Gateway project, in Rossendale, in partnership with Rossendale council, Rossendale Leisure Trust and the Northwest Regional Development Agency, but this is one of the most ambitious industrial schemes LCDL has been involved with in the east of the borough.

An LCDL spokesman said: "This development is a prior-ity project for Lancashire County Council's and Rossen-dale Borough Council's shared economic regeneration agenda."

County councillor Hazel Harding, county council leader and one of Rossendale divi-sion's representatives, said: "This represents a superb opportunity for Rossendale and Lancashire.

"It will create jobs, income and economic growth and will show we are