Luxury living beside canal

Plans for the project, on the opposite side of the canal to The Depot pub at Eanam Wharf, have been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The four-storey building, constructed from red brick and grey/blue slate, would house a combination of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Put forward by NJW Developments Limited, based at the Ribble Valley Enterprise Park, Barrow, the building would be four storeys high and come with a parking space for each apartment.

A spokesman for the company said the site was once home to a mill, but that had been demolished. He said: "The site is currently derelict and overgrown. We would build on there and landscape it."

The majority of the flats would overlook the canal, and the company would have to pay money to support a play area somewhere close by if it wins planning permission.

The multi-million pound scheme is the second housing project to be submitted to the authority in as many months.

Last month, pub tycoon Margo Grimshaw submitted plans for a five-storey, 62-apartment block on land currently used for several of her town centre clubs.

The Castle, C'est La Vie, and Never Never Land, all in Market Street Lane, and Mr G's in Fleming Square, would make way for the £7million, five-storey complex.

Town centre living is seen as a key part of the council's bid to turn Blackburn's economy around.

It hopes that, along with a new halls of residence being planned by Blackburn College, the arrival of hundreds of people to live in the town centre will keep the town alive late into the evening.

Graham Burgess, executive director of regeneration, said: "This application will have to go through the planning process before a decision is made.

"Part of our masterplan for the town centre will include developing more housing."

Blackburn Cathedral is also looking to create housing on its town centre site in a bid to bring more clergy closer to the cathedral.