Property firm urged to come forward with new mill plans

A property development firm is being urged to come forward with new proposals for a former cotton mill, after failing to follow-up on plans to transform it into a major business and leisure destination.

LED Emporium – part of the Hong Kong-based G-Suite Holdings – was given the green light for a £50m redevelopment of Grade II listed Warwick Mill, in Middleton, more than three years ago.

Under the scheme, the 200,000 square foot mill was to become a  global trade hub – including a showroom for exhibiting Chinese goods – which would also boast a number of restaurants and cafés.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/99788/middleton-mill-to-become-a-50m-global-trade-hub

But planning permission for the project – dubbed Red Warwick – expired at the end of last year, with no work having begun on the project, and the mill becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Problems at the Oldham Road site were underlined when a large blaze broke out on the ground and first floor of the five-story mill last year, forcing the closure of a number of surrounding roads.

Now council officers are pressuring G-Suite to come forward with new proposals for the red-brick building, which dates back to 1907, ‘as a matter or urgency’.

Mark Robinson, assistant director of economy at Rochdale Council, said: “We are in regular contact with the owners of Warwick Mill to ensure site security and have emphasised the need to bring this building back into viable re-use for benefit the wider community.

“We have asked for more information on their plans for the building, including a timetable for scheme development, and are waiting to hear back.”

Councillor Donna Willams, chair of Middleton Township Committee, said the council was putting pressure on G-Suite and the company was in no doubt that ‘as a matter of urgency we want it bringing back to a state that will contribute to Middleton’s success and future success’.

Councillor Williams said it was a ‘big concern’ in Middleton that G-Suite had not followed up on the planning permission, or come forward with new proposals.

She said: “It’s a big concern that nothing has come forward. We are all quite disappointed that things have not happened the way they were supposed to.

“It would be amazing, it would bring Middleton right to the forefront alongside Bury and Manchester.

“It feels like we have this amazing structure there and it’s not being utilised to its full potential, like bringing young business people into the area.”

And she added that the project had the potential to bring ‘vitality and life’ to Middleton.

She said: “There’s an exciting proposal here, we are all backing it, but when is it going to happen?” 

“All the township councillors are really excited about the potential – it’s a stunning building , so beautiful and could be absolutely amazing for Middleton.”

When planning permission was granted in December 2015, G-Suite director Robert Wong hailed ‘Red Warwick’  as ‘an international trading hub that will develop the two-way relationship between Asia and the UK’s Northern Powerhouse’.

It is believed uncertainty over Brexit may have led to the company cooling on the idea.

G-Suite has been contacted for comment.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter