BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle has welcomed plans to bring empty buildings in the north of England ‘back to life’.

His Liberal Democrat colleague, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, has called on community groups and entrepreneurs to work with owners and local authorities to reinvigorate disused properties.

Mr Clegg said: “We need to understand what stands in the way of some of the most incredible space in the country being used, and make things more flexible so that we can fill these buildings with artists, start-ups and other entrepreneurs to restore the buildings’ purpose and appeal.

Mr Birtwistle added: “We have already seen massive improvements to derelict buildings such as the unused mills which the new UTC now occupies, and other disused mills where companies such as Aldi have started building.”