PLANS to develop a new eco-village which includes up to 700 high-quality homes on a derelict site are pressing ahead.

Progress is being made to develop the former Salthouse Paper Mills in Barrow after architects and property developers paid a visit to the site on Monday.

The site was purchased by London-based property company, Hiltongrove, for £500k in 2018, with plans to turn the mills into a ‘smart industrial area aimed at businesses who need significant storage facilities’.

However, progress was halted on the development due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Nearly four years on, Hiltongrove chief executive, Guy Davis, revealed the wheels are back in motion to transform the site, with plans to provide up to 700 ‘low-energy, high-quality’ homes together with leisure and retail facilities.

Mr Davis said the company is gearing up to submit the ambitious plans to Barrow Borough Council.

He said: “I am delighted to be part of a team comprising the very best in class from the fields of architecture, urban planning, landscape design, engineering and more, with the collective task of seeking opportunity in Salthouse Mills.

“We are at the very start of an exciting journey to see what can be achieved, and more importantly, to understand what the local community would want from any potential development.

“We are not looking to submit plans to build another housing-only silo, but to create something unique and exciting. Something that we can look back and be proud of.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the council’s positive ‘can-do’ attitude, and particularly for the support being lent by Barrow chief executive Sam Plum.

“This is a great opportunity to do something quite special for the town and community.

“We’re working with local people and the council to understand what people need and want in the area. We don’t want to create something which doesn’t fit.

“Covid knocked us back quite a lot. The impact of the pandemic meant our progression and plans had to be put on hold for two years.

“But now we’re in the works of submitting plans to the council. We’re delighted to have great support with an understanding and proactive council.”

In 2008 Manchester-based property developers Amstone bought the mills off local businessmen Robin and Mark Walmsley, whose father had owned the site since 1972, for around £1.35m.

In the 10 years after, Amstone failed to develop it or obtain planning permission. This failure to act could be explained by a crushing overage provision on the land added to the title by Mr Walmsley.

The overage provision is a requirement of any owner of Salthouse Mills to give 40 per cent of any increase in value, as a result of planning permission being obtained, to the Walmsley brothers.

In 2017 Amstone put the site on the market for £1.6m and in 2018 they agreed to sell the land to Leftfield Group from Manchester but that fell through because of legal issues. Hiltongrove then purchased the site.