If you own an industrial unit in Blackburn, or you're looking for one, the first question is usually what it should rent for. The honest answer is that it depends on size, specification and location. But the local market does follow some clear patterns.
What units are advertised at
Here is a sample of industrial units advertised to let around Blackburn in November 2026.
- Gorse Street Industrial Park, Blackburn: 1,200 sq ft at £12,000 a year (£10.00 per sq ft)
- Unit 5, Whitebirk Enterprise Centre, Blackburn: 3,960 sq ft at £28,500 a year (£7.20 per sq ft)
- Unit 5, Stanley Court, Great Harwood: 4,562 sq ft at £30,000 a year (£6.58 per sq ft)
- Unit 3, St Ives Business Park, Blackburn: 8,148 sq ft at £40,000 a year (£4.91 per sq ft)
- Units 1-4, Ramsgreave Business Park, Blackburn: 9,818 sq ft at £39,990 a year (£4.07 per sq ft)
New-build units at Gladstone Street Business Park are offered from £14,500 a year, for units from 1,205 sq ft.
Why smaller units cost more per sq ft
The pattern above is typical. Small units of 1,000 to 3,000 sq ft are in short supply and are wanted by trade counters, small manufacturers and online sellers. Fewer of them come to the market, so rents per sq ft are higher. Larger units have fewer potential tenants, and the rent per sq ft falls as the floor area goes up.
What moves the rent up or down
- Motorway access. Units within a mile or two of the M65, at junctions 4 to 7, let faster and at higher rents.
- Eaves height and loading. Around 6 metres to the eaves, with a level-access loading door, suits most occupiers. Low eaves or no loading door limits who can use the space.
- Yard and parking. A secure yard adds value, especially for trade and transport occupiers.
- Condition and EPC. A refurbished unit with a good EPC rating lets faster. A unit rated F or G cannot legally be let at all.
- Lease terms. A landlord offering a shorter lease or a break clause may get a lower rent. A rent-free period may be agreed in return for a longer term.
Open storage land
Open storage land is priced per acre rather than per sq ft. A 0.76-acre site at Lower Hollin Bank Street, half a mile from Blackburn town centre, is advertised at £35,000 a year. That is about £46,000 per acre. Surfacing, fencing, lighting, CCTV and power all affect what a site will achieve.
Pricing your own unit
Asking rents are a starting point. What matters is what tenants have actually agreed for similar space nearby, and how long units took to let. If you own an industrial unit or a site in East Lancashire,
book a free property assessment. We'll give you a realistic rent based on recent local evidence, and tell you what would improve it.
Related guides: How to let an industrial unit,
Commercial EPC requirements for landlords and
What is open storage land?
Figures are advertised asking rents from public listings in November 2026, not agreed rents.
