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Regenerating the historic mills that are scattered across the north of England could allow for up to 9,000 new homes to be built on brownfield sites, and preserve green-belt land, according to a report from Historic England.
The Yorkshire Post reports that there are a total of 237 vacant and undressed mills in the Yorkshire region, which Historic England believes could become ‘wonderful homes, workplaces and cultural spaces’.
Catherine Dewar, Historic England’s north west regional director, said: “The mills of the north are such an important part of our history, culture and landscape.”
However, developers say various issues need to be resolved, with one developer saying that the biggest barrier is cost, as these projects cost around 35 per cent more than a standard new-build property.
Skipton-based Candelisa has already converted Horace Mills in n Cononley, near Keighley, into 51 apartments, plus new-build homes.
Candelisa’s sales and marketing manager, Sarah Cawley said that with conversion work taking longer than standard new-builds, the cash flow is harder to manage, with funds tied up until completion, while new-build developments can be passed, and cash recycled.
Cawley said she would like to see incentives from the government, and the removal of Section 106 contributions which legally bind developers to mitigate the impact of residential developments on the local community.
She said: “Fast-tracking planning applications and offering grants and loans to developers and landowners would certainly assist in making conversion opportunities more attractive.
Nathan Priestley, the founder of Leeds-based Priestley Construction, agrees and said he would like to see Permitted Development rules extended to speed up the process, making it more viable for developers to be able to buy brownfield sites and start on conversions.
He explained that standard planning permission can sometimes take several years, but if developers were able to apply under Permitted Development, the process would be simplified
“But if Permitted Development rules were laid down, we’d all know what we’re working to and the application would be more simplified – just a few forms, as opposed to hundreds and hundreds and then waiting for a decision. It would open up development and save green belt,” he said.
There is massive interest in converting existing buildings, particularly in the run-up to the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November.
According to Historic England, refurbishing historic mills can mitigate the carbon emissions associated with embodied carbon from demolition, and fewer materials are needed for building work.
The report from Historic England was put together by Cushman and Wakefield, and it highlights that ‘a surge in the market’s appetite to repurpose textile mills for residential and commercial purposes and this latest work underlines the scale of the opportunity that remains.’
The mill conversions are also attracting a diverse and interesting demographic of renters and buyers, from young professionals to retirees, who are all interested in living in a community with gyms, communal areas and meeting places, and other on-site facilities.
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