Businessman Jonathan Ruff wants to turn the 18th century Craggs Mill, off Moor Lane, into two luxury apartments – one for himself and another available for rent.

Originally, Mr Ruff wanted to turn the windmill into a headquarters for his computer firm, Memorybits.co.uk, but then he realised it would not be financially viable because the building and renovation costs would have exceeded £300,000.

But he is still planning to ensure the landmark, built in 1760, is seen from all around by lighting it up at night.

Mr Ruff, who recently moved his business to St Helier in Jersey from Leyland, said: "It will still have the wow factor – it will look really cool.

"The regulations are a lot less on a residential than a commercial property so we can make it even funkier. We're not changing it massively from its outside appearance – we're just going to stop it from being derelict.

"It's really bad at the moment. It had a fire inside a few years ago. It's just a mess and dangerous now.

"We're hoping to start work as soon as possible."

With the help of Leyland architect Jonathan Bowman he plans to turn the first two floors into one apartment, with a three-storey flat above.

Subject to planning permission, the outside of the Grade Two listed building will be re-rendered and a three-storey glazed extension added to house a staircase.

A two-storey extension will be demolished to make way for a garden and car parking.

Milly Tyson, secretary of the Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust, said Craggs Mill had "some historical interest".

She said: "A lot of windmills have been changed very, very effectively so there is a history of changing them."

The mill lost its sails in 1880 and has been used for everything from a piano workshop to a garage and a prison. During the war it was even used as a cinema.

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