Last week, Blackburn with Darwen Council announced it was preparing to buy the Scotland Bank Mill site, formerly home to the Kickers factory, which has stood derelict for years.
The site has been plagued by fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, and the Environment Agency said that a site visit was conducted, with unauthorised waste found to be stored at the site.
An EA spokesperson said: “We carried out a site visit and found that unauthorised waste was being stored.
“Our team issued a Stop and Clear Notice, requiring the waste to be removed within 28 days.
“We will revisit the site after this period to assess compliance, and if it is not removed within the deadline, we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action.
“We are working alongside Blackburn with Darwen Council to assess what further steps can be taken to prevent this from reoccurring and stop further waste being deposited on site.”
The council will use Section 106 funding secured through new housing developments across the borough to acquire the land.
The current owner, a national company, has deemed the site financially unviable for private development due to rising construction costs and site challenges.
The council intends to partner with Together Housing to deliver the scheme.
Together Housing already owns properties in Scotland Bank Terrace and the surrounding area off Heys Lane.
The site has been identified as suitable for two- and three-bedroom homes.
Key workers, including staff from Royal Blackburn Hospital, are being prioritised for those homes.
Councillor Mahmood said: “As a council, we are renowned for our partnership working, and the success of these developments – especially developments on difficult sites – is a real testament to that.
“We work incredibly hard to ensure we offer our residents the best possible chances in life – part of our mission to ensure that no one is left behind – and when we visit these new developments, we are fortunate to see the hugely positive impact they have.
“Yes, this is about creating new homes, but it’s also about building strong communities – something we are all passionate about.”
