WEST Craven Business Park has been hailed as the most important and significant development for Earby since the industrial revolution.

The park is to be built in fields on the northern outskirts of Earby with access from the A56. The site covers 12 acres and borders on open fields and is immediately adjacent to the proposed bypass.

The ambitious plan for the site is being led by Michael Westlake, of Westlake & Co chartered surveyors, on behalf of developers, Skipton-based JN Bentley Ltd.

Bentleys has been established for over 20 years, is well recognised for doing everything from developing housing schemes to bespoke "design and build" projects like the business park.

Mr Westlake said: "Earby has been the Cinderella of the West Craven area for quite some time and Bentley's see this development as something very exciting for the town.

"There will be the equivalent of 250,000 square feet to be utilised so the amount of employment that will be created will be enormous.

"People will be employed from the town and this will in turn bring money into the town. It will have a very uplifting effect on the economy of Earby. The workforce on that site could essentially be in the region of 3,000."

Earby first developed in the latter half of the 19th century from a farming community into a small industrial town closely allied to the Lancashire cotton trade.

The prosperity and then the subsequent decline of this trade, left their mark on Earby.

Although the residents enjoy employment with companies such as Wardle Storeys and Euravia Engineering and Supply, to name just two, many people have to look for work out of town.

Mr Westlake added there had already been significant interest in the site, with the first business unit being promised for Easter next year.

"There has been a lot of interest. It's really flexible and there's room for everyone including the small man.

"The joy of this development is that there are no rules. The units are clad in a shiny silver finish and the development looks very modern. Within the confines of the site people can have what they want - we have a very flexible approach."

Work is already under way creating the new access road linking the site with the main road through Earby, close to the Punch Bowl public house.

This access will also be used by Wardle Storeys, helping to alleviate long-running congestion problems as lorries negotiate the steep School Lane, with cars parked either side of the road.

Part of the funding for the new business park has come from Pendle Partnership - the body set up to oversee the spending of Government cash designed to regenerate the area and promote new business and industry.