PENDLE Council is in talks to buy the historic Brierfield Mills site.

The listed building in Glen Way, Brierfield, has gone on the market for £2million.

It was purchased for just over £1million by Birmingham-based disaster relief charity Islamic Help in 2009.

They wanted to convert the landmark into a large Islamic school for girls, but the plan was scrapped and the building has been left to deteriorate over the past three years.

Now council chiefs are in discussions with prestigious Manchester-based estate agents Knight Frank over a deal for the site, but they are asking £2million for the rundown mill.

Brierfield councillor Naeem Ashraf said: “The council should buy this building and do something similar to a scheme in Halifax at a similar sized mill, which is now a cinema and offices for local businesses.

“The refurbishment of this prominent building can really be a catalyst for regeneration in the area, there is a lot going on but this would be the icing on the cake.”

Since plans for the Islamic school fell through Pendle Council has tried to attract Regional Growth Fund investment and to secure a University Technical College for the site, both without success.

A spokesman at Knight Frank said the building was being marketed for £2million.

He said: “There has been a reasonable amount of interest and we have one client who has a strong interest.”

Brian Cookson, Pendle Council's executive director for regeneration, said: “We are hoping to acquire Brierfield Mill for PEARL2, our joint venture company.

“But for reasons of commercial confidentiality, I can’t give more detail at the moment.”