The 118,000 sq ft Cathedral Quarter project will see a hotel, restaurants, clergy buildings and new bus interchange built along with 37,000 sq ft of offices. The buildings are arranged to create a new public square around Blackburn Cathedral.
Maple Grove said it would shortly announce which national chain will run the 60-bed hotel and said the council would decide on planning in November.
The project is a partnership between Maple Grove Developments, Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Homes & Communities Agency.
Andrew Dewhurst, director of Maple Grove Developments, said: “The lodging of the planning application follows years of strong collaboration between the four partners who have enabled this scheme to reach this important stage.
“We hope that, following granting of the planning application later this year, work will commence on site in 2013 and will be completed by mid-2015.”
Architect BDP designed the office element of the scheme and Purcell drew up designs for the hotel and new clergy buildings.