Demo plans submitted for Blackburn’s Imperial Mill

According to the authority it will take time to bring forward detailed proposals, but this application is described as a ‘first step’ in a detailed programme of regeneration work.

The building was purchased from Lancashire Saw Company Ltd by Blackburn with Darwen Council last year in a bid to safeguard it for future employment and cultural opportunities.

The project team includes Cassidy + Ashton architects and surveyors for the planning, design and access, and heritage impact statements, and Bowland Ecology for ecological advice.

This application seeks permission to demolish parts of the mill deemed structurally unsafe including the boiler house, engine room extension, masonry annex and steel structure, none of which are part of the original structure of the listed building.

Cllr Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “This is a landmark building – an impressive and characterful former cotton spinning mill built at the turn of the 20th Century when cotton was king.

“As a council, it’s important that we do all we can to safeguard buildings like these and use them to help create jobs for the future while also looking at improving our place and looking to make the most of cultural and environmental opportunities too.

“While it’s very, very early days for our plans for Imperial Mill, this new planning application is important to help make the building safe and do all we can to help protect it.

“We know it’ll be a huge undertaking to bring it back to its best and make it fit for future use, but we’ve already successfully secured funding through the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and more recently through our levelling up partnership with them too.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council has submitted plans for the Imperial Mill. Credit: via Blackburn with Darwen Council

According to information provided by the council, the mill, in Gorse Street, was designed by architect Sydney Stott and cost around £120,000, the equivalent of £12m today, to build in 1901.

It can be seen from Carl Fogarty Way earmarked as part of a ‘key growth corridor’ in the council’s £1bn vision for the future.

Blackburn-based arts programme, Super Slow Way, has already identified the mill as one of four potential ‘cultural hubs’ along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal as part of its Linear Park proposals.

Lancashire Saw Company Ltd has also retained a 15-year lease as part of the sale and continue to operate from the building.

The Imperial Mill project is to benefit from a share of the £20m levelling up partnership funding secured by the council, with King George’s Hall, the Cotton Exchange and Tony’s Ballroom also in-line for investment too.

To see the plans, search for reference number 10/24/0259 on Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning portal.