FLATS and houses could be built on the site of an historic Huddersfield textile mill.

Manchester-based developer Panorama Living has applied for planning permission for 45 flats and 27 houses on the Newsome Mills site off Ruth Street.

Weaving sheds behind the main mill building would be demolished to make way for 27 four-bedroomed houses.

The multi-storey mill itself is to be converted into two-bedroomed flats.

Parts including the gatehouse, gates, offices and clocktower will be retained because the building is listed.

It is the latest in a long line of mill conversions in Huddersfield.

Phil Allsopp, whose Salford architecture firm Britch and Associates has done the plans for Newsome Mills, said: "It is a good use of a mill when there is no other way of using it.

"We don't yet know what the properties will sell for and we have no set timescale," he said.

"We anticipate that planning permission will be a drawn-out process."

As the mill is a listed building, many plans have to be approved before a decision can be made.

Traffic impact surveys and environmental studies of the site will also have to be carried out.

The earliest possible date for a decision by Kirklees Council is February 28. But Mr Allsopp thinks it will be several months before councillors decide.

The mills were founded in 1827 and were eventually used by Taylor and Littlewood.

MANY former mills in the area are being converted from their former industrial use to homes.

Schemes in progress include:

Priestroyd Mills: Firth Street, Huddersfield: £20m 1535 Melting Point scheme for 190 flats, a bar and restaurant.

Wellington Mills: Oakes. £18m flats complex.

Wildspur Mills: New Mill. 27 flats, 11 town houses, three detached houses and a new block of 16 flats.

Titanic Mill: Linthwaite: Six-storey flats, restaurant and fitness centre.

Sunnybank Mill: Red Lane, Meltham. £10m scheme to include 59 homes.

Mill Royd Island: Brighouse. 129 flats.

Completed schemes include:

Royd Mill: Thongsbridge. 15 flats in six storeys.

Northfield Mill: Almondbury. Conversion to homes.

Lighthouse: Westbourne Road, Marsh. 32 flats.

Proposed schemes include:

St George's warehouse: Huddersfield railway station. Flats and commercial space.

Parkwood Mills: Grove Street, Longwood. 121 homes.

Folly Hall Mills: St Thomas's Road, Huddersfield. 85 flats and leisure club.

Other schemes include:

Hollyns Mill: Rochdale Road, Greetland. 49 flats.

Valley Mills: Park Road, Elland. 119 flats.

Batley Carr Mill: Bradford Road, Dewsbury. 208 homes.

Fearnleys Mill: Lower Quarry Road, Bradley. Scheme for 37 flats.