AMBITIOUS £32m plans to regenerate a former mill site have moved a step closer.

The derelict Brierfield Mills site, in Glen Way, is the subject of a development known as Northlight.

Planners have now given the green light to build 52 apartments in the iconic Victorian mill and Northlight residents will also have hidden basement parking.

Office spaces for businesses and organisations within the Grade II listed mill also got the go-ahead.

And plans to develop a range of eating and drinking businesses within the former Brierfield Mill complex were approved too.

Planning permission was granted at the Brierfield and Reedley committee on Tuesday.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, said “Our ambitious plans to create a new £32m learning, living, working, leisure and cultural destination for the North West entered an exciting new stage this week.

“This will make our Grade II listed mill a great place to work, live and visit and will create hundreds of jobs."

Brierfield councillor Naeem Ashraf said: “We support the transformation of Brierfield Mill into Northlight – this redevelopment is vitally important for our area.”

Pendle Enterprise And Regeneration Ltd (PEARL) is the joint venture company of Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties which owns Northlight.

Tim Webber, managing director of Barnfield and a PEARL board member, said: “We’re immensely proud of the work we’ve done to sensitively convert the historic office buildings to create the new Lancashire Adult Learning.

“And we’re working at full speed ahead to develop excellent sport facilities for Burnley FC in the Community which will open at Northlight in the spring."

Councillor Iqbal added that properties on Clitheroe Road adjoining Northlight, including the derelict Railway Tavern, a garage and car sales business, will be demolished to provide a landscaped car park for Northlight.

He said: “People have been asking why there’s been a delay, but we need to wait for the utility companies to disconnect the services.

“Once that’s done PEARL can arrange to get the buildings safely demolished and we’ve lined up a demolition contractor to start work.

“The demolition will really help to open up views of the mill from Railway Street and will be another exciting step forward."