Site Background
The site has a series of previous planning permissions which are summarised below along with an overview of the site.
Location
The site is within the settlement boundary of Barnoldswick and is located to the north-west of the town, accessed from Fernbank Avenue, off Gisburn Road (B6251).
There is agricultural land to the north, dwellings on Great Croft Close and Fernbank Avenue back on to the eastern boundary, to the west is an existing commercial use and dwelling, and to the south is open land and dwellings on Priory Way.
A public right of way (FP1301003) runs through the site from north to south.
History
The proposed development is on the former site of Fernbank Mill, now demolished.
Fernbank Mill was commissioned for construction in 1913 and the mill opened for weaving in 1915. Weaving ceased at the mill in 1980 and thereafter a string of tenants occupied the buildings.
In 2008 Hope Technology relocated to Fernbank Mill and after further success, acquired its current factory Hope Mill on Calf Hall Lane, Barnoldswick in 2012.
Work on the demolition of Fernbank Mill commenced during June 2011 with the methodical dismantling of the structure and careful segregation of salvageable materials.
In 2014, Hope purchased the site with the vision to develop a new Research & Design facility, adding to their existing factory Hope Mill. Planning permission was obtaining in 2022, however the decision was taken to invest into the existing factory bringing in state of the art world leading technology and robotics along side doubling the workforce from 70 employees in 2014 to 160 employees at the current time.
Hope along with their development partner Muller Property Group are now looking to further enhance the sustainability of Barnoldswick through the delivery of residential development on the site.
Planning History
June 2011
13/11/0337P – Demolition Determination: Demolition of mill building. Approved
13/11/0272P – Demolition Determination: Demolition of mill building. Refused
January 2022
21/0590/FUL – Erection of a Research & Design facility Use Class E(g) (Light Industry) 2,340sqm including diversion of Public Right of Way 13-1-FP3.
The proposed development is the erection of a 2,340m light industrial research and design facility for Hope Technology. This is intended as an additional facility to their existing factory at Hope Mill. The proposed building would have a footprint of 116m x 21m an eaves height of 6m and a ridge height of 7.1m and would be finished in grey profiled cladding.
June 2022
22/0116/CND – Approval of Detail Reserved by Condition: Discharge Condition 18 (Drainage Strategy) of Planning Permission 21/0590/FUL.
November 2023
22/0264/CND – Approval of Details Reserved by Conditon: Discharge of Condition 7 (Construction Method Statement) and Condition 19 (Surface Water & Pollution Management during Construction) of Planning Permission 21/0590/FUL.
January 2024
Pre-application meeting with Pendle Borough Council and Muller Property Group to discuss the proposals.
Current Photographs
The site is approximately 5.7 acres (2.31 hectares). It is currently an unoccupied brownfield site and comprises of an area of hard standing and green space with an access track to an existing commercial property and dwelling at the rear.
A development by:
