Plans for £1m ‘kit’ houses to replace 19th Century Turton mill (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plans for £1m ‘kit’ houses to replace 19th Century Turton mill

5:18pm Wednesday 17th February 2010 in

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HOUSES that are made in Germany and assembled in just three days are set for the site of a 19th century mill.

Huf Haus, a prestigious German housebuilder, wants to build seven detached homes on Victoria Mill, at Station Road, Chapeltown, North Turton.

Panels for each of the ‘kit’ houses would be built in Germany and shipped to the UK and the houses will take just days to assemble.

Former Blackburn Rovers captain Garry Flitcroft is behind the plans, which would create the biggest single Huf Haus scheme in the UK.

Each one would be designed to be carbon neutral, using solar power and underground pipes to harness natural warmth from the earth.

The plans have been recommended for approval by council officers, and councillors will have the final say tomorrow night.

But objections have come in from North Turton Parish Council and campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage, who want to see the mill retained.

Colin Rigby, a Tory borough councillor for North Turton with Tockholes, said: “Converting the mill would have been a better idea, and more sympathetic to the area.”

Homes made by Huf Haus fetch an average of £1million, said project manager Nick Esser.

He said: “This is a unique proposal. In terms of square footage, money and sales value it is the biggest we have done.”

Once the houses have been assembled, fitting them out would take around four months, he added.

Huf Haus, which has its own owners’ club has developed a cult status.

In its submissions to Blackburn with Darwen Council, the firm said the new houses would have a ‘unique, innovative’ design.

But objections have come from residents who say the mill should be listed and preserved.

Save Britain’s Heritage said it strongly objected to the proposals, claiming the building could be ‘imagin-atively restored’.

North Turton Parish Council said it was not convinced the mill should be demolished, and said the houses would be out of character with the area.

But council officers have advised the planning committee to accept the proposals.