A RECYCLING depot in Padiham which was destroyed in a blaze last year is set to rise from the ashes.

Stephen Barnes, boss of Jigsaw Quest, wants to build a new industrial unit at the Park Road site, which was wrecked when it was torched by arsonists last July.

Mr Barnes, who rents out the facility to private companies, said he hoped to get the new unit up and running as soon as planning permission was granted.

The 963 square metre unit would be capable of dividing into four or eight separate sections, but Mr Barnes said he hoped to tie up a deal for the whole block.

He said: “It’s largely for storage and it’ll be snapped up straight away, hopefully. I’m in negotiations with a Burnley-based company who want to take the whole unit.

“We’ve added better security now too, with taller fences.”

Since the fire, which needed 50 firefighters in order to be brought under control, the depot has become fully enclosed with galvanised palisade security fencing and all new door openings will be fitted with high-security locks.

Mr Barnes said the new unit would be constructed to meet modern building regulations regarding the conservation of fuel and power to help mitigate the impact on climate change and reduce the building’s carbon emissions.

Jigsaw Quest, which is licensed by the Environment Agency, was formerly used as a household waste disposal centre by Lancashire County Council.