Work on a new £1m state-of-the-art pharmacy centre has started.
The Observer exclusively revealed last month how Aston Chemists Ltd will relocate to a purpose-built premises on Blackburn Road in Accrington which will include a pharmacy, dentist and opticians.
The company have operated a store further along the road for the past 25 years but were served with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) from the council four years ago.
Last month they agreed to buy land next to the Acorn Health Centre after a relocation package was agreed with Hyndburn council.
Diggers moved onto the site earlier this week and company bosses said the centre could be open by October.
Director Zafar Iqbal hopes the new centre will help improve the health of the community.
He said: "Our ambition is to make it a state-of-the-art centre offering a really good and wide range of health services for local people.
"The new centre will make the road look a lot better and, with the Acorn Health Centre just next door, it will really highlight and upgrade the area."
Mr Iqbal said: "We have designed a modern premises which will have state-of-the-art equipment and at least two full-size consultation rooms so we can provide more services in the future." Firm bosses said they will also relocate their Blackburn headquarters to the new facility which is on the site of a former petrol station. The company was founded 27 years ago and has six shops, including three in Lancashire and three in Yorkshire.
Plans for the Blackburn Road site include creating a 26-bay car park and the building will include two consultation rooms and better disabled access. Up to 25 new jobs are also expected to be created. Hyndburn council agreed the CPO using funds provided through the Housing Market Renewal scheme to regenerate West Accrington. Many nearby buildings have already been cleared and the council is working with development partner Keepmoat Homes to create new housing in the area.
Council leader Miles Parkinson described the centre as ‘really good news’ .
