MORE than 700 new jobs could be created at Shadsworth Industrial Estate, Blackburn, thanks to a £2.2 million Euro grant secured by council chiefs.

The money will also pay for new offices and other improvements to the estate.

Negotiations between Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration department and Manchester-based Government officials led to the award of the grant.

Private sector funding will boost the eventual investment total in the area to £6 million by 2001 and will add to Single Regeneration Budget funding already secured for the area.

The project will be run by the council's regeneration department which will report to Blackburn Regeneration Partnership.

A spokesman said: "This is all part of the plan to boost the local economy and the ongoing plans at Shadsworth."

The council has focused its regeneration spending on Shadsworth with major developments planned or already being built.

The area has become more desirable for developers since the opening of the M65 extension. Many firms have moved on to the Shadsworth Estate including Elektrameric, Cable Components, General All Purpose Plastics and Rockdoor.

A range of other plots on the site aimed at a variety of businesses is being marketed nationally.

The project will provide up to 180,000 sq ft of new commercial buildings as well as cycle paths, a bus route and landscaping.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.