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Luxury Apartment Conversion for Darwen Arts School

Nobody said that converting the old Darwen Arts School into luxury apartments was going to be an easy job, but given the history of the project, Red Rose Drylining knew they had their work cut out for them.

The project, which had been attempted and dropped by two other developers, is finally due to be completed by Christmas. The combination of a poor economic climate and many expensive unforeseen circumstances has made this a challenging conversion. It’s for this reason that it has taken several attempts to get the apartments into the final stages.

Luxury Apartment Conversion for Darwen Arts SchoolOriginally built as a Victorian school building, the site has been transformed into high quality housing in order to meet local demands. It is full of history. Designed in 1894 by Mr J Lane Fox, the school boasts the artist James Hargreaves Morton as a former pupil. In its first incarnation, the site was that of the Grammar School before becoming the Secondary Technical School. Its final guise, before the conversion, was that of Darwen Moorland Lower School between 1972 and 1995. This was a meaningful job for roughly 80% of the project work force because this was the school they attended. Among the former pupils were employees of Barnfield Construction and two directors of Red Rose Drylining.

Given that it has been closed since 1995 and further damaged by the failed efforts to convert it, the building has been described as “an eyesore.” However thanks to the great progress of Red Rose Drylining, Barnfield Construction and their 1.4 million pound budget, the school has now been turned into three town houses and forty two luxury flats. These residences will be available for rent from February. The property as a whole retains many of its outstanding architectural feats and will include residents parking.

Among those who are pleased that the luxury apartment conversion project is nearing completion is the Mayor, Eileen Entwhistle, who declared her delight at the good news. She paid tribute to the great achievements of the team who made it happen, adding that it would improve the look of Union Street.

In the run up to the completion date a show flat has already been opened, which includes an artist’s impression of how the site will look. Red Rose Drylining, who plastered, painted and fitted out the entire property are the UK’s premier drylining company. They are on target to toast their continuing success in the drylining industry this Christmas when their latest project is over.

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