BACKBARROW is set for a major development boom after planners backed two bids to breathe new life into old industrial land.

Members of the Lake District National Park Authority development control committee have given the go-ahead to an application from Blackpool-based firm Zonex Ltd to transform disused buildings on the east bank of the River Leven into shops and business units.

Meanwhile, a separate bid to restore Backbarrow Ironworks and put the ancient industrial site to use as offices, homes and workshops looks set to be given the nod in February.

Senior park planner Norman Atkins told members that "good progress" was being made with the Ironworks application.

"I would hope to be in a position to recommend this at the next meeting," he said.

Applicants Rural Business Homes Ltd envisage creating employment space for more than 110 jobs; 17,638 sq feet of office and workshop space and 10,703 sq feet of workspace in 19 "live/work" units, where there is living accommodation on the first floor.

Consultation with the highways authority is yet to be completed but other concerns have been overcome the Environment Agency is now content with the plans following a thorough flood risk assessment.

The Zonex Group plans to divide an existing building on the 1,321 square metre plot into four light industrial units and what it calls four "retail craft/workshops". It also plans to convert and extend the building to house a garden centre and construct an "exhibition/museum building".

Zonex declined to comment on the plans or indicate whether they would be carried out. This latest application replaces an almost identical lapsed planning permission granted in 1994.

January 10, 2003 09:30