Cathedral Court

Heritage-Led Regeneration

Location: Blackburn

Sector: Commercial | Mixed Use

Services: Masterplanning | Conservation Architecture | Urban Regeneration

Year: 2016

As Cathedral Architect to Blackburn Cathedral between 2001 and 2022, James Sanderson led the architectural vision behind the £35 million regeneration of the Cathedral Quarter, one of the most significant heritage-led regeneration projects undertaken in England. Centred around the creation of Cathedral Court, the development transformed a post-industrial town centre into a vibrant mixed-use destination, creating new opportunities for investment, culture, leisure and commercial activity while reinforcing the Cathedral's role at the heart of the community.

Designed to strengthen both the Cathedral and the wider city, Cathedral Court provides new accommodation for clergy and organ scholars alongside a library, conference facilities, office space, hotel accommodation, restaurants, cafés, landscaped gardens and high-quality public realm. At its heart is a contemporary cloister, recognised as the first new cathedral cloister to be built in England for over 500 years, creating a distinctive civic space that successfully integrates historic architecture with modern community use.

Working collaboratively with Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn with Darwen Council and the wider project team, the scheme demonstrates how conservation architecture, masterplanning and heritage-led regeneration can act as catalysts for economic growth and urban renewal. The project has become a landmark example of how historic buildings can be adapted to support thriving, sustainable communities while safeguarding their architectural and cultural significance for future generations.

Award: Winner – Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) Northwest Region Conservation Award.