Lob Lane Mill transformed for housing

"Pendle Council's plans to create new homes at the Mill, which has lain derelict for many years, are coming to fruition," he explained.

The Council bought Lob Lane Mill in January 2010 as part of ambitious plans to create modern homes in a historic setting by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, on the outskirts of Brierfield.

The credit crunch had meant that other developers had not been able to make a scheme viable.

But the Council teamed up with local partner Barnfield Investment Properties to form a joint venture company called PEARL2 to keep regeneration going in Pendle. PEARL2 is now developing the site.

Brian Cookson, our Executive Director for Regeneration, said: "Despite the economic climate, our established joint venture company with Barnfield has successfully pulled off a pearl of a housing scheme of national significance.

"It's been funded through money from the end of the government's housing market renewal programme, Barnfield Investment Properties and Pendle Council.

"The scaffolding has just come down and we can see that the Mill will give people more housing choice on a development which is sensitive to its historic setting," adds Brian.

"From the spacious mill conversion to new family homes with stunning views of Pendle Hill, I think it will be a popular choice with people wanting to make a move," he said.

Barnfield Construction, which is carrying out the construction work in partnership with PEARL2, has kept the main mill warehouse and engine house as part of Pendle's mill heritage.

Work is going well to convert these into 12 four bedroom town houses.

Other buildings on the site have been demolished and work is underway to build 14 two and three storey houses as the first phase of new housing.

The first homes at historic Lob Lane will be going up for sale by the end of August, only just over 18 months after councillors gave the conversion the go ahead.

Councillor Mike Blomeley, Pendle Council's Leader and a Councillor for the Brierfield and Reedley area, said: "I'm delighted with the result of the refurbishment work on the mill block fronting the canal.

"This is going to be a stunning location to live and it is a tribute to the professionalism of our partners Barnfield Construction.

"What is even more pleasing is that at last we have been able to deliver some real progress in Brierfield, which for far too long has been waiting for the canal corridor regeneration scheme to deliver new homes.

"I've been an enthusiastic supporter of both the need to make progress in Brierfield and of our joint venture company, PEARL2.

"It is wonderful to see how successfully it is now delivering projects within our communities".

Barnfield Homes, the Barnfield Group's residential arm, is working on a show home in the mill and a view home on Clitheroe Road, so people can see what the new homes will look like once they're complete.

Anyone interested in buying a house or apartment should contact Lee at Petty Estate Agents on (01282) 616 314 for a brochure and more details.

Tim Webber, Chairman and Managing Director of the Barnfield Group, said: "As a Pendle company we're passionate about the Lob Lane Mill project.

"It's not every day you get the chance to convert a fantastic landmark like this historic mill, which looks out on some of the best views in the country.

"The new housing development and apartments, will give people the best of both worlds. 

"They're close to Pendle's beautiful open countryside and lovely villages such as nearby Fence and Barrowford, but also within easy reach of the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds," he explained.

The development will be known as Quaker Heights and Pendle councillors have agreed to the name Quaker Rise for the new road into the site.

The name marks Pendle's historic associations with George Fox, who founded the Quaker movement after experiencing a vision on climbing Pendle Hill in 1652.