TENS of millions of pounds are needed to breathe life into dozens of old mill and factory sites in East Lancashire, according to a campaigning peer.

Lord Tony Greaves has called on the Government to direct chunks of a £1.8billion regeneration fund towards Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, to revamp large swathes of the region.

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Major former industrial sites such as Perseverance Mill in Padiham, Oak Mill at Colne, the former Brook Shed at Earby and the dilapidated Albert Mill in Whitworth could benefit from such a cash injection.

So far there have been tentative success stories, like the soon-to-be-built homes for the former Clock Tower Mill site in Burnley and canalside homes in Brierfield, but these have relied on one-off Whitehall grants or public-private development partnerships.

Lord Greaves is arguing that significant funding is needed to ensure the returns for developers, given East Lancashire’s traditionally lower house prices, makes it worthwhile for housebuilders.

He said: “The Government has announced a number of brownfield initiatives which appear add up to around £1.8billion not a small sum. But so far they seem to be of little use in this part of the world.

“My concern is that in areas like East Lancashire, new housing developments are often not viable financially, and on brownfield sites they are rarely so. “This is due to the housing market being very sluggish, our house prices are very low compared with the national picture.

“So the cost of land and development plus profit to developers cannot be recouped from sales.

“In the case of housing for rent in either the private or social housing sector the costs of development plus management and maintenance over the years cannot be recouped by rents over that time.”

While Pendle Council has set aside £1.5million for the purpose, and Burnley Council has at least one Growth Deal bid in North West Burnley and Padiham involving housing, much more would still be required.

Council bosses in Pendle and Rossendale are taking part in a pilot initiative to compile a register of brownfield sites, to flag up to developers where key old industrial sites are located.

The likes of Fernbank Mill in Barnoldswick and old railway sidings in Colne and Foulridge are on Pendle’s version, and the old Kearns Mill site in Cowpe is another on the valley register.

Cllr Christine Lamb, Rossendale Council’s housing cabinet member, said: “This is a vital piece of work. Having a comprehensive brownfield register will help us in our Local Plan and will help identify development sites during the difficult balancing act of protecting our green spaces and meeting Rossendale’s housing needs.”

One of the eyesore sites, Oak Mill, is in the hands of PEARL, the Pendle Council and Barnfield Construction development partnership, and housing has been suggested for the site.

Ward councillors are calling for something to be done quickly as the mill land, owned by a Manx company, has been the subject of at least two prosecutions because of its condition.

Burnley Council leader, Cllr Mark Townsend, said: “I would support any efforts to get funding that will help us to unlock these difficult brownfield sites. “But it’s a bit rich for Lord Greaves, as it was his party who was in government from 2010 to 2015 when the Elevate programme, which was paying out millions for work such as this, was scrapped.”

Cllr Neil Butterworth, a Horsfield Conservative councillor, said: “The site is a real mess and the local residents are fed up with the lack of action.

“Pendle Council could have made progress 12 months ago but the Labour administration has dragged its feet.”

Cllr Steve Petty said: “I urge Pendle Council to submit a planning application as quickly as possible and I will do what I can to ensure its looked upon favourably by councillors.”