A FIRST glimpse of the 'transformational' work being done to regenerate a historic mill has been given to the organisations who will occupy it.

By the end of next summer, Brierfield Mills will house the county's adult learning college and Burnley FC's community charity and be home to hundreds of staff.

Lancashire Adult Learning Centre principal Amanda Melton and Pendle Council’s leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal got a preview on progress as work at Northlight continues.

Work stopped on the £5.75m first phase of the project for 30 minutes yesterday as they saw how the work on mill’s offices is progressing.

The project is being led by Barnfield Construction who began work six weeks ago.

The new centre will support 22,000 learners in Lancashire across 120 community venues.

Mrs Melton said: "The move to Northlight in August 2017 will reinforce our position as a beacon of education across Lancashire.

"We are thrilled to be part of it.”

Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership have provided £1.4m to support the relocation of Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) from its current base in Chorley to Brierfield, where 120 staff will be based.

They will move following a new partnership with Nelson and Colne College earlier this year.

Mrs Melton said: “A new base in a state-of-the-art development will give us all the support and resources we need to take learning where it’s most needed.

“It will help us reach further into the heart of more and more communities.”

The complex will also include sports facilities for Burnley FC in the Community which will open in September 2017.

Cllr Iqbal, the chair of Pendle Enterprise And Regeneration (PEARL), the joint venture company of Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties which owns Northlight, said: “It’s been full speed ahead since October.

"Every day is a big step for this project.

“I’m very impressed with the progress that has been made and you can really see it beginning to take shape.

“You can really visualise people learning and working here.”

Northlight is an eventual £32m project to create a new learning, living, working, leisure and cultural destination at Brierfield Mills.

Part of the next phase of the project could include 60 apartments.

Tim Webber, managing director of Barnfield and a PEARL board member said: “It’s all on schedule for the Lancashire Adult Learning Centre to open in August 2017, less than nine months away.”

David Graham, site manager at Northlight for Barnfield, which is carrying out the work, added: “Anyone who’s visited or worked in the old offices will be pleased that whilst we are creating a new modern and accessible centre, we are keeping some elegant period features.

"These include the curved oak staircase and the main feature window with its stunning view over the Northlight weaving shed windows to the historic clock tower."