PLANS to build East Lancashire's first "green" business park have moved a step closer - and construction could begin in the new year.

Environmental charity Prospects is behind the £2million proposals which could see an industrial site built that would be entirely environmentally friendly.

Coach Road Meadow, an 11-acre site on the edge of Oswaldtwistle and Church, has already been bought by the group to house the business park.

Now a feasibility study into the project has been completed and building work is ready to be started.

Phil Barwood, the chairman of Prospects, said the site would generate its own electricity and contain a treatment plant to deal with all sewage created.

Mr Barwood said: "All of the buildings would be designed to perform in an energy efficient way.

"That means insulating buildings to minimise heat loss, maximising natural light and using low-energy products.

"We are hoping to attract environmental businesses onto the site, such as manufacturers of environmentally sound products, recycling firms and renewable technologies."

He said that two potential partners for the green business park have already been identified.

site that offers as many practical features as possible to reduce environmental impact.

The development will be run as a not-for-private-profit social enterprise, the income from tenancies being used to support the core costs of the charity's work.

Mr Barwood added: "The usual green business park you hear about is a site that has some environmental elements tagged on to it.

"The idea here is to create a business park that is totally green in concept. That means from the design of the buildings and the management of the site. We would hope to put in place every practical environmental measure.

"The development will be an opportunity for small and medium sized businesses to locate on a site that offers as many practical features as possible to reduce environmental impact."

He said the original idea was to have a collection of small 3,000 sq ft units at the site. But after interest from two larger companies, the park may well be dominated by two larger 20,000 sq/ft units and around five 5,000 sq/ft workshops.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in the next few months.