Planners have given the green light to transform the old Newtown Mill on Queens Lancashire Way as part of an expansion at the University of Central Lancashire's campus.
It comes after UCLan put in an application to transform the old site after receiving part of the government’s £20 million Levelling Up Fund for Burnley and Padiham.
The multi-million-pound expansion will transform the surrounding area to provide world class higher education facilities within the borough.
Commenting, Burnley and Padiham’s MP Antony Higginbotham who lobbied hard for the funding said:
This is such an exciting project for our borough – levelling up the area around Trafalgar whilst increasing educational opportunities for residents will bring real benefits to Burnley and Padiham. And is why I’ve worked with Government to make sure the funding is available to ensure it happens.
It’s vital that we create the opportunities for people to thrive and education plays a massive part in that. We already have some amazing facilities with the likes of Burnley College. And this latest development at Newtown Mill will further enhance our borough’s education offering.
With the planning permission now in place I’ll continue to work with UCLan Burnley and Burnley College to make sure we have the best skills and education provision locally, meaning we can boost our advanced engineering sector and take advantage of the National Cyber Force based just over the hill in the Ribble Valley.
The scheme – combining conservation with modern design – can now go ahead subject to 22 conditions and will add to the expansion which has already taken place at the nearby Sandygate Mill.
The redevelopment of the mill in Burnley’s historic Weavers’ Triangle will create around 35,000 square feet of space for innovative teaching facilities, a business/enterprise zone, and new public spaces.
A design statement says: “The scheme sits adjacent to several other new developments that border the Leeds Liverpool Canal and has the potential to link to possible further phases of development of the wider site. The historic chimney is a prominent feature and could be designed to create a prominent way-marker along Queen’s Lancashire Way.
Prof Graham Baldwin, UCLan’s vice-chancellor, has said previously:
Burnley is rapidly establishing itself as an attractive canal side campus. Newtown Mill aims to build on our employer engagement strategy so local companies benefit from degree apprenticeship courses in areas such as digital, cyber, engineering and management.
