THE massive revamp of St George's Warehouse could start as early as the new year.
Developers today unveiled more details of the scheme - which could cost more than £10m.
Measuring a quarter of a million square feet, the cavernous brick warehouse overlooking Huddersfield railway station could soon begin a new lease of life as homes, offices and shops.
Property developers HD1 Developments, who own the Grade II listed St George's Warehouse, have just applied to convert the building into 62 apartments and 60,000 sq ft of offices on the top four floors.
Tom Finch, of Rider Hunt Management Services, based in Leeds, is working with the developers.
He said HD1 Developments were attracted both by the building and Huddersfield itself.
"The feeling was not just that the building had potential. Huddersfield as a town had that potential."
He said the size of the building could be viewed either as a blessing or a curse.
Since the early 1990s, a string of owners have aimed to convert the mill - without success.
Mr Finch said: "You could see the potential was there. It was just a case of identifying where the barriers were to development."
HD1 Developments had overcome the issue of the vast scale by creating a multi- purpose space.
"The sheer size and potential gives you any number of options."
A huge light-well will be created in the heart of the building. The huge atrium will create a virtual street in the middle of the structure.
Mr Finch revealed the building, which had an estimated £2m spent on it by previous owners in the 1990s, was still in reasonable condition with some very robust ground floor walls.
"It's built like a nuclear bunker! Four feet thick, the load-bearing walls are filled with rubble."
As the building is listed, the development team have been working in close consultation with English Heritage and Kirklees Council Conservation officer Stan Driver.
Mr Finch said: "It does provide you with some restrictions but the fact that it is listed demonstrates the building has character and worth."
