Workers have demolished the Windmill pub, a century-old former farmhouse-turned-inn on Preston New Road at Mellor Brook, ending more than a decade of dereliction for a building that was a familiar landmark on one of Blackburn’s busier routes.
Long history, long decline
The building had served the village for over 100 years and was at various times a local pub and a Berni Inn. It was run by John Ellis, who took it over in 2009, and was later placed on the market by owners Enterprise Inns in January 2015. Since then the site has stood empty and gradually deteriorated.
Residents say the empty building became an eyesore and a worry. At one point people feared the premises were being used for illicit films after seeing lights on upstairs. Despite the concern, it is understood the land has not changed hands and remains with the same owners.
Contested future: petrol station plans rejected repeatedly
The future of the site has been the subject of repeated planning battles. Developers proposed turning the site into a 24-hour petrol station and convenience store. The plans, put forward by James Hall and Co, included a convenience store with canopy, six fuel pumps, underground storage tanks, EV charging points and car parking.
Local opposition was strong — in part because there is already a petrol forecourt less than 200 yards away — and South Ribble Borough Council has rejected such proposals on more than one occasion. In 2023 councillors refused an application for a petrol filling station and convenience store for a third time, concluding the development would have increased disturbance and a detrimental impact on nearby residents, a decision that had echoed an earlier refusal in 2018 and that was later upheld on appeal.
“I think we are all glad that it has come down. It was an eyesore and had served its purpose. The question now is for many: what will it be?” — John Greaves, Samlesbury Residents Forum
The Samlesbury Residents Forum has campaigned on multiple issues for people living in the area, and local voices welcomed the removal of a decaying building they felt lowered the quality of the neighbourhood.
- Site: Windmill pub, Preston New Road, Mellor Brook
- History: Former farmhouse; served as pub for more than 100 years; once a Berni Inn
- Recent ownership: Listed for sale by Enterprise Inns in January 2015; site reportedly still with same owners
- Development attempts: Repeated proposals for 24-hour petrol station and convenience store by James Hall and Co — rejected by South Ribble Borough Council (most recently in 2023)
What happens next?
With the building now removed, the immediate question for nearby residents is the future use of the site. Previous planning refusals show councillors are mindful of residential amenity and local impacts when assessing intensive commercial schemes on the route. Any new application for redevelopment will be subject to the usual planning process and local consultation.
For locals who have watched the place fall into disrepair over the years, demolition removes a visible problem. Yet it also reopens the debate about how best to use a prominent plot on Preston New Road — whether for housing, community use, or commercial development — and how to balance investment with the character and concerns of neighbouring communities in the Blackburn area.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Early 1900s | Building serves local community as farmhouse/pub |
| 1990s | Operated as various pub brands, including Berni Inn |
| 2009 | Run by John Ellis |
| Jan 2015 | Put up for sale by Enterprise Inns |
| 2018–2023 | Plans for petrol station repeatedly refused by South Ribble Borough Council |
| Aug 2026 | Building demolished |
The removal of the Windmill pub closes a long chapter for Mellor Brook and leaves neighbours and councillors weighing the next steps. Any proposal that arrives will have to address the same concerns that saw earlier applications turned down: traffic, disturbance and local impact. For now, the gap on Preston New Road is a reminder that even long-standing local landmarks can quietly disappear — and that communities will press for decisions that protect where they live.
