A FORMER mill building could be partially demolished and transformed into apartments and houses.

An application has been put forward to South Lakeland District Council to convert Ellers Mill in The Ellers, Ulverston into eight apartments and three terraced houses.

The building has remained vacant since 2018 when it was previously occupied by Furness Engineering and Technology Limited (FETL).

Ellers Mill is a four-storey former water powered cotton mill which has undergone significant extension and alteration during its time.

According to the design and access statement included in the application, the redevelopment of Ellers Mill has been considered between the applicant, Tim Redshaw of T Ward and Son, and the South Lakeland District Council for a number of years.

The proposal is to convert the former mill building into eight two-bedroomed apartments and construct three new-build terraced properties in the location of the existing single storey offices.

The plans state that the existing storage building will be demolished and replaced with modern open-plan flats.

A stairwell is also proposed to be constructed to ensure all of the apartments are fully accessible.

The design and access statement states that the development would 'appeal to a wider area' of the housing market.

It states: "The existing buildings are outdated and are in significant need of renovation; one of the reasons why the former occupier was forced to relocate.

"This coupled with the need for a more accessible premises in terms of commercial location, being located in a heavily residential area, meant that the site became unviable.

"As the application site and surrounding area is already heavily developed, the redevelopment of the site would not result in the loss or enjoyment of any open spaces.

"The characteristics of the site are deemed to be appropriate for residential development.

"The applicant has for some time been assessing the most feasible way of renovating the existing building and developing the site to its maximum potential.

"Domestic redevelopment is deemed to be the most appropriate use for the site due to its heavily residential surroundings and the need for housing in the local area.

"The proposal is therefore to redevelop the site for domestic use through a mixture of terraced houses and apartments; the intention being to appeal to a wider area of the housing market."