Historic mill and ‘eyesore’ neighbour will be transformed into almost 300 apartments

Almost 300 new apartments, restaurant space and a rooftop garden are all part of an approved rejuvenation of a historic cotton mill in Middleton.

Warwick Mill has towered over the town since 1907, but has been subject to continuous vandalism after being ravaged by a fire back in 2018. It has been vacant for a number of years, but now the Grade-II listed building will be transformed into 135 apartments with up to 6,500 sq m of commercial ‘floorspace’ up for grabs.

Developers Kam Lei Fong (UK) Ltd will also demolish the neighbouring six-storey office block, known as London House, and replace it with a 146 apartment building.

The 1960s building dubbed as ‘an eyesore’ by the developer will be replaced by the building named ‘The Loom’ – which would include a rooftop garden, retail spaces, with one reserved for a supermarket type usage. The new 10-storey building will also feature basement parking and a walkway to Warwick Mill.

Overall, both buildings would provide 281 new apartments as well as retail and leisure facilities in the heart of Middleton town centre.

 

 

A new restaurant/cafe in the old engine room, a gym and a function room for weddings and conferences are also included in the plans for the mill. The restaurant area will feature an outdoor area with decking for diners and a riverside walkway are included in the plans.

Part-demolition of some floors of the mill, built in 1907, would be required in this redevelopment in order to make the site more comfortable and safe. Changes would be made to the roof and entrance in order to provide more light and ventilation and some walls, windows and the metal fire escape will be removed, according to planning papers.

A total of 77 parking spaces are provided across the development area with 24 in the ground floor area of the mill, 29 for the Loom building and 20 for the restaurant area.  Four of the spaces will be provided to a disabled standard and electric car charging facilities as well as 340 cycle parking for residents are touted.

“Proposals will breathe new life into a Grade II Listed vacant mill and remove the eyesore of London House, and allow the site to fully contribute to the on-going regeneration of Middleton,” a planning statement read.

“Warwick Mill is in a particularly poor state of repair and without considerable intervention and investment; there is a very real risk of the building’s deterioration accelerating which could result in total loss.

“The iconic mill will be refurbished and repurposed including a rooftop extension, with neighbouring land developed, to provide 281 new homes, commercial and retail spaces and open space.”

This proposal forms one part of the Middleton Town Centre Masterplan. The idea behind this masterplan is to boost the town by creating new housing and commercial space, improving connectivity across the area.

Rochdale Council’s planning team have officially approved the plans – meaning construction work can now begin.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter