A DERELICT mill could soon receive a new lease of life in a bid to boost Rawtenstall town centre.

Plans to transform Ilex Mill, Bacup Road, into 94 apartments have been submitted to Rossendale Council.

Under the plans, a two-storey wing of the empty mill would be demolished by Manchester development company P J Livesey. The work requires a second application for listed building consent and a 21-day consultation exercise is now under way to gauge local feeling.

But deputy leader of the council, Councillor David Hancock, said putting life back into the mill could lead to further improvements within the town centre.

He said: "We want to get as many observations as we can. The most important thing in relation to this particular application, which we have been expecting for some time, is to see it back in use while still in its listed state.

"It makes it safer if we can get a reasonable planning application and get it back into use. If we can't do that it could end up having to be delisted which would defeat the object of the Civic Trust getting it listed.

"I hope people will be constructive in their comments. It is a building that has been a problem in Rawtenstall for 15 years.

"The company we are dealing with have done similar schemes in other towns and adapted buildings, particularly mills, very sensitively. I want to see that building part of the solution in the town centre and not part of the problem. If we can get back into use it will be a real boom for the town centre."

Kathy Fishwick, chairman of Rossendale Civic Trust, said: "We have a look at every plan as it comes in. We approve of any plan that gives this building extra life, but we will look to discuss the details further. We want it to come to development control soon so it's not continuing to stand empty."

The plans are available to view at Rawtenstall Town Hall and will also be on display at the Weavers Cottage, Bacup Road, on Sunday, and during Rossendale Civic Trust's AGM tomorrow night.

The Trust has been campaigning for 20 years to see the mill, once owned by property tycoon Owen Oyston, preserved. Earlier this year Rossendale Council decided to apply to have Ilex Mill delisted with a view to ultimately demolishing the building and developing the land. An ambitious £4.5million council scheme to develop the mill for a new town hall and police station failed to get approval from the National Lottery.