00:00 We're here at North Light Mill in Brierfield for the culmination of a 14 year £30 million
00:06 investment to transform this former mill into a thriving cultural hub which has everything
00:12 under one roof. Join us as we take a look around this huge complex. It's incredible to be here for
00:18 the completion of North Light. This has been a project that has dominated my time in Parliament
00:24 the past 14 years. I think there's been seven leaders of Pendle Council, three different chief
00:29 execs. This has been a real team effort of people working together to try and get the investment in
00:36 to this site and we've seen a £32 million regeneration turning this site from the
00:40 largest redundant mill complex in Lancashire now to this stunning beacon for the local area.
00:46 There's an incredible amount of different activities taking place at North Light from
00:50 artist studios to the business centre to luxury flats then to the the Thunderland where we are
00:56 now which has climbing walls, indoor play centres and a gym. There is an incredible amount going on
01:01 here, there is something for everyone and with Lancashire Adult Learning we're also ensuring that
01:06 the local community are heavily involved being able to do whether it be ESOL classes or various
01:10 other learning opportunities right here in Brierfield. So 14 years ago people said that we
01:15 couldn't do this, it was impossible, this mill was too big, 350,000 square foot set over eight
01:21 acres. People said there was no way we could regenerate this and they also said things like
01:25 luxury flats wouldn't work outside of Manchester or Liverpool and yet here in Brierfield we have
01:31 proven that something like this is possible in East Lancashire and if it's possible here it's
01:35 possible anywhere so I think this can be you know a landmark that showcases what can be done in terms
01:41 of regeneration not just here but around the UK. This has been an incredible partnership between
01:47 Barnfield Construction involved with Pearl working with the council as a joint venture but then
01:54 bringing in a whole range of other stakeholders. I've brought various ministers over the years
01:58 to initially secure the one and a half million pound to bring the mill into public ownership
02:02 but then Homes England have been participating in this, the Arts Council have helped fund the
02:07 artist studios, Burnley FC and the community helped originally create this leisure box which
02:12 has now become Thunderland. So a whole range of partners over the years, private sector,
02:16 public sector, working in partnership to deliver something truly transformational.
02:20 We've had Theresa May visit the site but we've also had I think five other cabinet ministers
02:25 over the years come here to look at the opportunities to look at what could be done
02:29 and I would really love to bring some more back now to see the finished product because I think
02:33 this is truly impressive, truly transformational and this is finally that vision for over a decade
02:40 that everyone's been working so hard on it's finally been realised.
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