Work begins on creating leisure and learning facilities at Northlight

Work has begun on an ambitious £32m project to transform Brierfield Mill into Northlight which will create a new living, working, learning, leisure and cultural destination for Lancashire.

Main contractors Barnfield Construction commenced the first phase of Burnley FC in the Community’s leisure facility and offices and learning facilities for Lancashire Adult Learning’s new base in Brierfield. The first phase of work for Burnley FC in the Community includes refurbishing a huge warehouse.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Chairman of PEARL and Leader of Pendle Council, said: "I’m absolutely thrilled that all of the pieces of the jigsaw are coming together and we can now start to transform our vast heritage mill.

“Northlight will significantly contribute to the regeneration of Pendle as well as creating an exciting major new destination for the North West."

The Northlight project is led by PEARL, a joint venture development company established between Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties Ltd.

The £2.15m from LCC includes £1.5m for infrastructure and public realm works, including redeveloping the canal marina for leisure use, as well as £650,000 to support the relocation of Lancashire Adult Learning from its current base in Chorley to Northlight. The new facility for Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) will be run by Nelson and Colne College. It will support and deliver adult community learning across Lancashire as well as providing a centre in East Lancashire, which has the greatest demand in the county for community learning.