Start on Site for Pioneer Place, Burnley

Our Pioneer Place scheme reached another major milestone last week, with the project partners breaking ground on the mixed-use development. The project is being delivered in a public-private partnership between Maple Grove Developments and Burnley Council with construction by Eric Wright Construction.

We originally secured planning approval for the site in 2020 but, due to changes brought about by Covid-19, worked with the project partners to revise our proposals which were approved in March 2021. We’re therefore delighted to see the scheme take this next step forward with work starting on site. In total the project comprises a seven-screen cinema with five new food and beverage units, all centred around new public realm and a refurbished Curzon Street car park.

Nik Puttnam, senior development manager at Maple Grove Developments, said: “The partnership with Burnley Council has overcome a great number of challenges to reach this point and the project team must be congratulated for their unwavering commitment to the scheme and to the continued regeneration of Burnley town centre.

“Our vision to create a leisure quarter that will diversify the evening economy here in Burnley is finally being realised.”

Burnley Council leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said:

“It’s fantastic to see this major project get underway. Burnley Council has been determined to forge ahead with this exciting and ambitious project and now it is becoming a reality.”

“Pioneer Place will bring new visitors to Burnley town centre during the day and into the evening, deliver new jobs and support the growth of the rapidly-expanding UCLan campus. It will help diversify what the town centre has to offer to residents and visitors alike and help boost the local economy.”