Case study

Over £19 million funding for Burnley town centre and canal side

Over £19 million from the Levelling Up Fund will support improvements to Burnley town centre and canal side.

The investments in Burnley’s industrial heritage will make the town more attractive to visitors, investors and residents.

Repurposing Burnley’s mills to support education

Front view of Newton Mill, Burnley.

The funding will support the transformation of Burnley’s historic mills. This will help University of Central Lancashire’s (UClan) Burnley campus support an extra 3,500 student places.

Sandygate Mill will be transformed into a student support centre and library.

A new university centre will be created on the Newton Mill site.

Improvements will be made to George Street Mill.

Professor Graham Baldwin, the Vice-Chancellor of UClan said:

This will raise young people’s aspirations in the area, respond to local employers’ skills needs and support the regeneration of Burnley… we are grateful for the support from the Levelling Up Fund and the backing from key partners.

The works at the university are expected to finish by 2024.

Improvements to Burnley Manchester Road Station

Burnley Manchester Road station will be made more accessible with:

  • better platform access
  • a connecting footbridge
  • new lifts.

Upgrades to Burnley’s canal towpath.

A share of the fund will be spent on improvements to the towpath between the station and Turf Moor. This will make the canal side a safer and more enjoyable walking route.

Leader of Burnley Council, Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said:

These three key projects within our Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan, along with our other developments, will mean that Burnley town centre can continue to develop, diversify, and prosper. I am so pleased that these projects will now be delivered.

Find out more about levelling up.

Published 17 January 2023