Blackburn deaf hub owner's modern statement home approved

Debra Cartlidge has been given planning permission for the house in the grounds of The White House in Preston Old Road, Feniscowles, Blackburn.

The four-bedroom house will be built in the footprint of the former Livesey Mill next to the ground-breaking Deaf Village North West and School of Sign Language.

Currently their owner and manager Ms Cartlidge lives in temporary accommodation on the site.

How the site currently looks

Hearing impaired herself, she created the sign language school in 2006 and developed the £700,000 specialist deaf hub for over-16s which opened last year to reduce social isolation for those with hearing problems.

Ms Cartlidge said: "I am absolutely pleased this application has been approved.

"It is imperative that I as a qualified sign language interpreter live on site.

"It will be beautiful house which celebrates the history of the mill. It is going to cost a lot of money which I will have to find from my own pocket."

What the interior would look like

A report by planning officer Nick Blackledge recommending approval says: "The applicant owns the property adjacent in Preston Old Road including the ruinous mill area to the immediate west, where the proposed development would be positioned.

"The proposed new dwelling will provide accommodation for the owner and manager of The Deaf Village North West.

"She is required to reside at the site, is currently in temporary accommodation.

It will feature a spiral staircase

"The construction of the new property within the mill walls secures an opportunity to ‘rescue’ the heritage feature whilst meeting the needs of the owner.

"The building has been designed to synergise with the old mill by holding a position within the remaining historic fabric of the mill.

"The building would appear as a contemporary statement piece partially shrouded by historic walls.

"Although partial demolition is somewhat regrettable it is justified if it secures the long term conservation of the remaining mill.

It will also have a balcony

A design and access statement submitted with the applications says: "The design brief for this project is to create a family home suitable for comfortable living environment for generations to come.

"It was to create a four-bedroomed family home which although on the site which is also her work would be separate and private.

"The White House and the entire site is an award-winning collection of buildings and services providing a safe, secure, communal living environment for deaf people with no communication barriers and the services offered on site enable deaf people to live independent lives.

"The main social accommodation of the family home is arranged on the entrance level with private sleeping and bathing accommodation arranged on the lower ground floor nestling into the heavy deep mill walls."