ONE of a town’s biggest former nightclubs could be transformed into ‘luxury’ apartments and a gym.

Applicant Steven McPherson of Hammerton Ltd, has lodged proposals to build 26 flats and an office or gym space at the former Lava Ignite site in Burnley.

If given the go-ahead the proposals would see a mixture of one and two-bed homes on the first and second floor of the Grade II-listed building in Hammerton Street.

This would give the ground floor the potential to become a large commercial unit, three smaller units or an extra facility for its occupants, such as a gym.

In a planning document, a spokesman on behalf of Mr McPherson said the flats would be ‘large, luxurious, high-quality apartments’ for the higher end of the market.

The complex would be renamed ‘The Foundry’.

As a nightclub the former mill used to have thousands of clubbers pass through its doors before it closed in 2014.

Cllr Shah Hussain, who represents the area on Burnley Council, said the plans were ‘positive news’ for the town centre.

He said: “Of course this is a positive step for Burnley, it is renovating a derelict property which has been vacant ever since the nightclub closed a few years ago.

“It is a big building to be used, it is good news.

“If the plans are what they seem, high-spec flats, why should they not be built in Burnley?

“Burnley has great links to Manchester and the flats are within walking distance to the train station.

“The flats are right in the middle of the town centre.

“The building is the only empty one there so it will be great to see it restored and hopefully it will continue the trend of seeing others getting reused.”

Prior to becoming a nightclub in 2001, the building was the former iron works and foundry for James Proctor, the inventor of the mechanical stoker and various other patented mechanisms that allowed the steam engines to run automatically.

Part of the complex was also used as a skating rink, a popular pastime during the late 19th century with Burnley having a total of eight skating rinks at one time.

A spokesman on behalf of Mr McPherson, said: “The introduction of life back into the complex will also mean the maintenance and survival of the Grade II-listed mill will continue for the near future.

“The re-naming of the complex to ‘The Foundry’ directly relates the buildings back to its history and success.

“These flats are proposed to be large, luxurious, high-quality apartments for the higher end of the market.

“With spacious living areas and king-sized bedrooms, they will not follow the typical style of new-build flats where minute rooms are squeezed in to minimum requirements to gain maximum numbers and income leaving small cramped conditions.

“The large size of the apartments means they will be able to accommodate a wider range of tenants looking for a decent sized space to call home.”