Maple Grove Developments, part of the Eric Wright Group, has secured planning for the new AEW-designed £18million Pioneer Place leisure and retail scheme in Burnley, Greater Manchester.
Funded by Burnley Borough Council with support from Lancashire County Council, the 36,477 sq ft leisure-led scheme is anchored by an eight-screen Reel Cinema, as well as restaurants, bars, retail units, a public realm and a 125-space car park. Smith & Love Planning Consultants advised Maple Grove on the planning application.
Speaking about the decision, Nik Puttnam, Senior Development Manager at Maple Grove Developments, commented: “This is a huge coup for Burnley; the town has been yearning for a strong leisure offer to attract more visitors from a wider area and increase dwell time and spend.
We are talking to a number of national and regional leisure operators. Our next step is to appoint a contractor for the scheme with a scheduled start on site date of early 2021 and an estimated opening of Pioneer Place in November 2022”.
“We are continuing to progress a separate planning application for the Manchester Road site, where Reel Cinema was previously located. Construction is due to begin here in February 2023 with the opening of the food retail element planned for the following November.”
Burnley Council Leader, Charlie Briggs said: “This is great news and a major step forward in this exciting leisure development. It will draw in visitors from a wide area which, in turn, will boost existing local businesses and have a positive impact on the local economy as a whole. Not only does it attract visitors but how great it will be for residents of all ages .”
“We believe that this scheme very much complements the town’s existing offer and are pleased that consent has been achieved. With Reel Cinema already committed to the scheme and planning now secured, we are confident Pioneer Place will attract further leisure and retail operators to the development. It’s also great news for the growing university student population in Burnley with the expansion of UCLan in the town.”
Savills and John Brady are acting for Maple Grove Developments.
