They were the backbone of our industrial revolution in the north.
Now a new report calls for more developers to take on mill regeneration.
And several classic textile mills in the Huddersfield and Kirklees area are cited in the new study.
Historic England say textile mills are iconic landmarks shaping the character of West Yorkshire and where they are successfully converted make a positive contribution to the region.
Over 1,000 of the region’s textile mills are either vacant or underused and bringing them back into use could accommodate 27,000 homes or 150,000 jobs.
Developers, owners and agents are being asked to bring forward ideas for textile mills conversions and work collaboratively with public sector partners to make these projects happen.
‘Engines of Prosperity: new uses for old mills’, a report published today, calls for action from developers, textile mill owners and public bodies to work together to maximise the potential of the region’s historic textile mill buildings to bring benefits to local communities and the economy.
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The region was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of the textile mill owners. Salts Mill and Dean Clough Mills were among the earliest major industrial reuse projects in the country but a generation on from these pioneering developments there are still significant number of mills sitting idle and at risk of decay.
Historic England appointed property consultants Cushman & Wakefield and architects Lathams to investigate potential solutions for bringing the region’s vacant textile mills back into use.
During the course of the study, there have been fires at vacant mills across the region including two of the mills represented in the study and news reporting of these fires illustrates how communities can be devastated by the loss.
Historic England planning director for Yorkshire, Trevor Mitchell said: “These textile mills are the original Northern Powerhouse and a great resource for the future. They still shape our skyline and are providing new spaces for the creative and digital industries as well as housing for the 21st Century.
“We want to work with partners willing to find creative solutions to bring new uses to these old mills to secure their future.”
The conversion of Titanic Mills in Linthwaite and Parkwood Mills at Longwood are highlighted in the study as fine examples of what can be done.
But the study also says that more can be done at the Parkwood site and also at mills like Carlinghow Mill in Batley.
