Housing Minister sees regeneration of Brierfield Mills

Government for Housing and Local Growth Mark Prisk with Coun. Joe Cooney, Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson and Tim Webber during his visit to Brierfield Mill.

Mr Prisk met with leading politicians, developers and Pendle Council officials at the stunning Quaker Heights show home on the former Lob Lane Mill site.

In this mill building that has been transformed into modern living spaces, Mr Prisk heard about the council and Barnfield Investment Properties’s already successful regeneration partnership, PEARL2.

Councillors, town hall officials and Barnfield Construction also set out for Mr Prisk the proposals to regenerate nearby Brierfield Mills.

He was then taken on a tour of Brierfield Mills to appreciate the size and scope of the project.

Pendle Council Leader Coun. Joe Cooney, who leads on housing and regeneration, said: “We discussed with Mr Prisk the funding opportunities to take our plans forward.

“Brierfield Mills has huge potential for a wide range of uses, from industry and business to retail, leisure, arts and culture.

“By taking Mr Prisk on a tour of the mill buildings, we hope he feels as enthusiastic as we do about the regeneration opportunities they provide.”

PEARL2 is currently awaiting the outcome of a bid for European Regional Development Fund money.

Chief Executive Stephen Barnes added: “We’ve been working with the Department for Communities and Local Government on funding opportunities to help us get our plans for Brierfield Mills under way.

“By also showing the Minister PEARL2’s already successful redevelopment of Lob Lane Mill, we hope he will have confidence in our proposals and lend his support to our funding bid.”

Tim Webber, Managing Director of The Barnfield Group and Director of PEARL2, said: “Barnfield are delighted that the Housing Minister has taken the time to visit this major regeneration site.

“We have big aspirations for the redevelopment of the mills and our development team are talking to a number of possible organisations to find the right end users for this development.

“We look forward to starting work in the near future on this prestigious building creating jobs in the pre and post-development phases.

“Our aim for the development is to create an influx of new people into the Pendle area by offering a unique destination which as a result will benefit the local economy.”