THIRTY new homes could be built on the site of a 19th Century mill in Brierfield.

Rowan Ramsay Investments has applied for outline permission to build two-storey three and four bedroomed homes on the site of the former Lob Lane Mill,.

The plans, which also include a new access to Clitheroe Road, are recommended for approval by the Brierfield and Reedley Committee, which is set to make a decision at a meeting next Tuesday.

The canal-side steam powered the weaving mill, in Clitheroe Road, which was built before 1879 and added to in 1891 and 1910.

The application is for seven detached houses along the canal front, three detached houses along the southern and northern edges of the site and four blocks of town houses along the Holden Road frontage.

Councillors had requested the mill building should be kept and turned into apartments, but a costing exercise showed that would be too expensive.

The county archaeologist has asked that the building should be recorded and analysed before demolition, if the plans get the go-ahead.

The British Waterboard has objected to the development as the factory extracts and drains water into the canal and would need decommisioning. It also still has a loading bay canopy which would need to be removed.

A report by officers says: "The proposal represents a 'brownfield' site, the redevelopment of which would introduce new housing into the area and contribute to the revitalisation of the housing market in the town.

"In view of the government's initiative to revitalise the housing market in the central areas of Nelson and Brierfield and reduce the dominance of terrace housing in the area as a whole, a scheme following the lower threshold of 30 units is appropriate in this edge of town location, which can make good use of the canalside position."