A FRESH bid is set to be made to regenerate the ‘eyesore’ former home of the Glen Dimplex group in Burnley.

Waterside Mill, of Havelock Street and Ingham Street, has been mostly empty for around five years since the appliances firm moved to Network 65.

But proposals for a ‘mini-village’, featuring 117 canalside homes, a sports pavilion, eco-park and water features, are now being pursued again.

Outline planning permission was first obtained for the site in early 2010 but the economic climate has not been favourable to progress the plans, according to the developers.

Bosses at Glen Dimplex, who still own the site, have confirmed that the detailed aspects of the application are not likely to be forthcoming before that permission expires this month.

Richard Gee, director of planning agents Roman Summer Associates, said: “Our client therefore wishes to extend what is clearly a very important ‘regeneration’ permission by five years.”

The site was described by one of Burnley’s former mayors, the late Coun Tony Lambert, as ‘a complete eyesore’.

The new homes would be a mixture of townhouses and apartments and a children’s play area would also be created.

But fellow councillors have previously been concerned about the traffic implications of the mill blueprints - and the highway safety issue of the entrance to Waterside being near to St Augustine of Canterbury Primary School and Rosegrove Nursery School.

Mr Gee has told planners that the ‘Waterside Park’ development would provide ‘quality new homes and recreation facilities’ beside the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Coun Bea Foster, who represents Rosegrove with Lowerhouse, said: “Anything which can improve the area and bring economic benefits should be welcomed.

“But we need to balance this with the needs of local residents and I will be asking whether they have any issues with this, which we can talk to the developers about and move this forward."