Blackburn vape factory rebuild approved

PLANS to rebuild a vape factory gutted by fire have been approved.

In September the building off Johnson Way in Blackburn’s Shadsworth Industrial Estate was destroyed.

Now Acsini Investments Ltd has been given the official go ahead to rebuild the premises occupied by Vape Dinner Lady.

Work is expected to start shortly.

More than 50 firefighters from across the county and specialist units attended the September fire caused by a faulty light which took three days to fully bring under control.

Now the planning application has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council in March to replace the severely damaged industrial unit has been approved with 14 conditions.

A supporting statement with the application said: “On September 11, 2023, there was a significant fire at the property occupying the site causing considerable damage to the building fabric and structure.

“This application is seeking to approve a rebuild and redesign of the recent fire damaged structure.

“The site is currently vacant land containing the remnants of the previously fire damaged building and its service yard.

“The proposed usage of the land will be for one industrial unit to be constructed which encompasses the original footprint as well as a new proposed extended area into what was a previously oversized service yard.

“The building will consist of a large open space warehouse space primarily accessed from two sectional access doors directly off the service yard.

“Featured facing the roadside of the site is a two-storey office block containing a standard stair core, washing and wc facilities, office and canteen space.

“The appearance of the building will be reminiscent of that of the surrounding units as well as the original building but with a more contemporary finish. The primary palette consists of two-tone shades of grey profiled cladding.

“The building has been designed to be reminiscent of the scale and size of the previous fire-damaged structure as well as to be similar to those of the surrounding properties.

“This development will help to reinforce and improve the economic output of the local plan designated primary employment area.

“The design of this unit not only will result in the development of a fire damaged area of the Shadsworth industrial estate it will also provide a new contemporary industrial unit that will improve the aesthetics of the surrounding area.”

Blackburn-based property company Acsini Investments Ltd is run by former Accrol bosses Jawid and Majid Hussain.