Concern over ex-Blackburn textile mill flats plan (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Concern over ex-Blackburn textile mill flats plan

1:14pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in News

DAMAGE Moorgate Mill was wrecked by fire in August 2009

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 37 homes to regenerate the derelict site of a burnt-out Blackburn textile mill will be considered by planning chiefs tonight.

The proposals to provide 20 flats for disabled and vulnerable people and 17 family houses have provoked two letters of objection to the council.

Meadowhead ward councillor Ashley Whalley is urging Blackburn with Darwen’s planning and highways committee to demand further details of the scheme for Moorgate Mill from the developers before giving the OK.

The former Tranmer Textiles factory closed in 2008, was wrecked in a fire in August 2009 and the ruins demolished later that year.

Now HB Community Solutions Ltd have come up with a plan to revive the derelict site.

They want to build two blocks of flats with 20 apartments for the learning disabled and vulnerable run by major national charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

The flats would have on-site carers to help them ‘live an independent life in well-equipped accommodation’.

There will also be a residential development of 17 houses of which few details are given in the outline planning application.

Objectors in Bentham Close expressed concerns about privacy and the blocking of light.

Coun Whalley said: “This is the sort of development that we would like on a site like this. But I and fellow ward councillor Carl Nuttall are concerned at the lack of detail about the application. We understand the objectors’ concerns.

“We want the council to get fuller details of the proposals.”