The love affair between Brits and period properties shows no sign of waning, yet with more homes needed to supply the rising demand and so many practicalities intrinsic to new-builds, it is possible to find best of both worlds. Converted historic buildings such as mills provide the character and charm so many desire in a period property, while offering contemporary comforts and often better green credentials. There is also the benefit of utilising brownfield sites rather than imposing on Greenbelt, as well as often highly desirable locations which may otherwise not be accessible.

The potential of Yorkshire’s historic mills
With over 900 mills in Yorkshire, and around 230 now vacant or under-used, the fruits of the industrial revolution in God’s own country offer an attractive opportunity to both developers and those looking for a unique place to live. By the end of the 19th Century, Yorkshire was at the forefront of the nation’s textile industry and saw a vast number of mills built, often utilising riverside locations to provide power. Many of those remaining now stand empty, but there is a significant and increasing appetite to re-purpose them.

Indeed, Historic England has released a report titled ‘Driving northern growth through repurposing historic mills’ which seeks to identify the potential in Yorkshire’s disused mills to contribute to the rebalancing of the country’s economy, as well as improving environmental sustainability. The report highlights a number of regeneration success stories since 2017 in a bid to encourage the re-development of further mills as an important part of our industrial heritage, and to ensure they are retained for future generations.

The report reveals that there is some 750,000 sqm of vacant floor space in these historic buildings, equivalent to around 105 football pitches. This space could accommodate almost 9,000 homes, with space for a further 15,400 homes on the surplus land around the mills.

Trevor Mitchell, the region’s director for Historic England commented on the report: “Yorkshire’s mills are such an important part of our history, culture and landscape. These amazing buildings and sites can accommodate wonderful homes, workplaces and cultural spaces. Special places where the history and character shines through.”

MP for Colne Valley and Northern Culture All Party Parliamentary Group Vice-Chair, Jason McCartney, added: “Regenerated historic textile mills can unlock social and economic benefits for the people of the north by driving the regeneration of whole areas, and helping to deliver the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda. They can provide a focal point for communities, enhancing quality of life, creating homes and jobs, attracting investment and aiding economic recovery.”

McCartney continued: “I have seen the benefits of successful mill regeneration first hand in Colne Valley where Titanic Mills is now home to apartments and an award-winning spa, and Acre Mill has been redeveloped as the NHS Outpatients Department for the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. These conversions each, in their own way, make a valuable contribution to the community and I am keen to help unlock opportunities for future mill redevelopment in my constituency.”

The history of Greenholme Mills
It is with these values and aims in mind that developer MMR purchased Greenholme Mills, with a view to transforming it into a luxurious residential property. The site, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the highly sought after village of Burley in Wharfedale, and close to the popular town of Ilkley, has been home to textile mills since the 1790s. The original, Greenholme Old Mill, including a timber weir, embankments and goit, was built by partners George Merryweather, Jonas Whitaker, Richard Paley and Thomas Davison.  Powered by water fed from the River Wharfe, the mill turned raw cotton into cloth and employed hundreds of people. By the 1850s the mills and surrounding Greenholme Estate had been converted to worsted spinning and weaving, with parts demolished and replaced with a much larger mill in 1872. The Old Mill was finally demolished in 1976, but a number of the site’s buildings and additional mills remained, which were until recently under-utilised for a variety of commercial and industrial purposes.

The conversion of Greenholme Mills
Manchester based MMR purchased the site with planning consent for a residential development of around 90 homes, and contracted architects Bowman Riley who have a strong track record in mill developments, to redesign the project. The site’s setting on the banks of the River Wharfe boasts far reaching views of the Wharfe Valley, and with a station only ten minutes’ walk away providing easy connection to Leeds, the mills offer a highly attractive location. 

The conversion includes a combination of single, 2 and 3 bedroom luxury apartments, stunningly designed to the highest standards, sympathetic to the mill’s history and period features. A double height entrance lobby, concierge and 24 hour security, underground parking with EV charging points, and glass lift, as well as beautifully landscaped grounds set this development apart from anything else along the Wharfe. The project is further enhanced by fitness and recreation facilities including a swimming pool, gym, café, and crèche with an outdoor play area. The attention to detail throughout the development makes the most of the buildings’ original character and retains as much as possible of the structure of the existing buildings.

Multiskill’s role in the development
Our highly specialised commercial team were brought onto the project three years ago, initially to undertake woodworm treatments to the mill buildings prior to the conversion of each apartment, as well as some tanking works to the ground floor. Our experience in historic buildings across Yorkshire, as well as working with high-end architects and developers made this a perfect project for us and a challenge we were delighted to be involved in.

Most recently, we were commissioned to provide below-ground waterproofing to a section of disused tunnel on the site, which is to be used as a gym for residents. The tunnel’s original purpose was to divert water from the Wharfe to power two turbines which provided power for the mill’s cotton processing machines. This part of the project called on Malcolm, our specialist in the design of waterproofing systems for commercial developments, who is CSSW certified. The work required the tanking of the floor, walls and curved ceiling of the end section of the underground tunnel.

In consultation with Triton Systems, we opted to use a Platon 20mm membrane on the walls, ceiling and the floors, with a linked continuous-perimeter aqua channel. This channel diverts any water ingress into two commercial-grade sump chambers, each containing a 240v pump with 24v battery back up, including alarm warning systems. Only when the water levels inside each of the sump chambers reach a certain height is a switch is triggered, which activates the pumps to discharge to an above ground external drain. This system provides peace of mind and total security against water ingress in the internal space, allowing it to be converted and maintained to a high standard.

Multiskill’s contracts director, Phillip Slater commented: “The Greenholme Mills development is just the sort of commercial project we love to sink our teeth into. Although a great number of challenges are always to be expected in unique historic buildings, and with such an ambitious design to bring to fruition, our team enjoys utilising its varied and highly specialised experience and qualifications to provide the necessary work to bring them to life. The use of brownfield sites to create new residential and commercial properties is something we are passionate about, and we look forward to similar projects in the future.”