Bid to demolish Victorian mill in Darwen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bid to demolish Victorian mill in Darwen

5:00pm Monday 2nd July 2012 in Darwen By Dan Clough , Reporter

A 162-YEAR-old Darwen mill could be knocked down and the land redeveloped under plans submitted by a construction firm.

Nelson company Barnfield has bought the Balle Street Mill site for a fee understood to be around £240,000. And the firm has asked to knock down the 5,190sqm mill, which was built between 1850 and 1852.

Managing director Tim Webber confirmed that discussions were ongoing as to what the site could be redeveloped as, but it could be used for both industrial and commercial premises.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, sales and lettings manager at Barnfield, said: “We are looking forward to breathing new life into this former mill site.”

Balle Street Mill has stood empty since March 2010, when occupants Octaveward went bust, leaving 65 workers redundant. It was initially on the market for £750,000, but with little interest the price was significantly reduced by agents Athertons Commercial.

The mill was the site of a huge fire in November, 2008.

Marsh House town councillor and secretary of Blackburn, Darwen and Rural Civic Voice Simon Huggill said: “The developers need to think very carefully about the historic setting of India Mill.

“The frontage of Balle Street Mill significantly contributes to that historic setting.

“If a way can be found to keep the frontage but develop an industrial facility behind, that would be excellent.”