A RETIREMENT village has been announced as the first tenant of the £25million redevelopment of Brierfield Mill.

Evermore Wellbeing Ltd has signed a deal with Pendle Enterprise and Regeneration Limited (PEARL) to build 60 flats at the site, which will be known as Northlight.

Sarah McKee, Evermore chief executive, said the retirement village would be ‘the first of its kind to be built in England’.

Each apartment in the five-storey block will have an ensuite double-bedroom, living room, kitchenette, and balcony, with each floor sharing a communal living area and hearth including an open plan kitchen and large dining table.

PEARL, a joint venture between Nelson firm Barnfield Investment Properties and Pendle Council, welcomed the news.

Barnfield’s managing director Tim Webber said: “We’re excited about having the ground-breaking Evermore proposition in Lancashire first, and in such an iconic local building.

“The Evermore concept combined with the fantastic regeneration of a landmark building will set the standard for what we demand of housing in later life.”

It is expected that construction of the apartments will begin in Autumn 2014, with sales commencing in Spring 2015. Evermore, founded in 2012, hopes to build at least 20 of its communitites by 2020.

Sara McKee, chief executive officer of Evermore, said: “We’re delighted to be working with PEARL Barnfield Construction on the first Evermore village development and it’s fantastic to be part of such a visionary approach to regeneration at Northlight.

“Evermore’s philosophy is about providing older people with fantastic lifestyle opportunities in the heart of the community they know and love.

“With amenities including a hotel, business enterprise centre, recreation facilities, restaurants, and a marina, I can’t think of a better location for our first village than Northlight.”