The billionaire Issa brothers have submitted an application to demolish the last remaining structure of the former Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn. The building, a former visitor centre, is located on a nearly half-acre site off Penny Street, which is owned by their property company, Monte Blackburn.

The brothers, who made their fortune with the creation of Euro Garages (now EG Group), aim to clear the site to prevent it from becoming a hotspot for anti-social behaviour. If approved, the demolition is scheduled to begin on 9 September and is expected to take four to five weeks.

This marks the final chapter in the demolition of the iconic Thwaites Brewery site, which has been a significant part of Blackburn’s skyline since the 1960s. The building was last used by The Bureau Centre for the Arts but has remained vacant since the centre moved out.

No redevelopment plans for the site have been submitted by the Issa brothers, but the area is part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s broader £250m regeneration scheme. This includes proposals for an innovation district featuring two new buildings with a total floorspace of 141,000 sq ft, facing a landscaped urban park.

The Issa brothers’ involvement in Blackburn’s redevelopment comes at a time of heightened interest in property networking events across the North West. The demolition of the Thwaites building could be discussed at upcoming property events in Blackburn, as industry professionals explore opportunities within the town’s ambitious regeneration plans.

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