A GREAT Harwood councillor has welcomed plans to improve an “eyesore’’ site in the town.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Hyndburn Council for 79 new homes to be built on the former St Lawrence Mill site off Britannia Street.

At present the site is blighted by rubble, and fly-tipping has been a big problem in the area over the past few years.

Councillor Peter Clarke has been fighting for something to be done to improve the look of the area for years. He said the council has been threatening the landowners with a notice to clean the site up.

He added: “The site is in a terrible state. It’s very early days because this is just an outline planning application for housing. We don’t want a high-density development and we will insist on quality building. We’re not having any slums put up.”

Over recent years, planning permission has been granted for a range of uses on the site. A children’s day nursery for 105 children was approved in December 2006 and a 135-bed children’s home in 2005. Both decisions are still valid.

Councillor Clarke added: “Whether it will materialise, I don’t know. The site has been approved for various uses in the past. I would like to see it cleaned up first and then I’ll be open to suggestions about what goes on it.”

The new application is for two one-bedroom flats, 24 two-bedroom flats, 13 two-bedroom homes, 35 three-bedroom homes, and five four-bedroom-plus houses.

The site is split into two sections – one to the north and one to the south of Britannia Street including the former cotton mill.

The northern section is currently cleared land, bound by terraced properties to the north, Britannia Street to the south, Water Street to the east and factories to the west. Vehicle access would be off Britannia Street.

In the application, agent Indigo Planning Ltd states: “The site is highly suitable for residential development. It is in a sustainable location adjacent to Great Harwood town centre, which would provide residents with easy access to shops, services and jobs within walking distance.

”The development fits in with the surrounding use, character and appearance. As the land is currently vacant, full of rubble and overgrown it presents an eyesore and crime concern to surrounding residents.”

The plans include 100 parking spaces, including six garages for detached properties.