UK infrastructure developer Aeternum has revealed plans to develop an energy park near Blackburn in Lancashire, as well as new residential housing.
The company has acquired the 118-acre site of the former Sappi Paper Mill in Feniscowles to the south-west of Blackburn, which it will develop alongside sites at Castleford and Bromborough for mixed use (using the existing attributes of its power station, reservoirs and brownfield land where the mills were situated), together with new homes within the borough.
As well as providing a source of clean fuel and creating up to 400 jobs at the energy park, Aeternum plans to redevelop the former mill and is looking to partner with UK national building partners to commence work on the residential element of the development.
The Blackburn site is the latest acquisition by Aeternum and its investment partners, forming part of its strategy to develop a number of integrated renewable energy parks across the UK.
Commenting, David Frohnsdorff, partner at Aeternum, said: "The acquisition of the Blackburn site is tremendously exciting for Aeternum, as it gives us the opportunity to develop another energy park, creating jobs and providing an alternative low carbon fuel source.
"The residential element of our plan is also extremely important, at a time when the UK is experiencing an unprecedented housing shortage. It is estimated that the country will suffer from a shortfall of 750,000 homes by 2025, and developments like ours can play a crucial role in alleviating this problem."
The planning application is expected to be submitted in March this year.
