Kirkstall Valley Development Trust launches community share issue

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A community group in Kirkstall is asking local residents to pledge their support to turn Abbey Mills into flats and a community and education centre.

Kirkstall Valley Development Trust is today launching a community share issue where people can buy shares to help support their bid to try and develop Abbey Mills into an events space, meeting rooms, learning centre, cafe and flats.

The 19th century mill has been empty for the past 12 years.

Chris Hill, from the trust, said:

“We want to take the mills into community ownership. Kirkstall doesn’t really have a community centre, and this is something that’s at the heart of what we’re trying to do.”

Burley resident Adele Rae, community director of the trust, said development of Abbey Mills would create a ‘more vibrant, supportive and more resilient community’.

KVDT is looking to raise around £40,000 from the community share issue. Mr Hill added:

“We potentially have Lottery backing, but need £40,000 to undertake the development work (architects, surveyors, business planning etc) to produce the hard evidence that will persuade Leeds City Council to transfer the mill to the Trust.”

The community share issue for Abbey Mills is the starting point for a wider plan to re-activate both Abbey and St Ann’s sheritage mills and open up 200 acres of green space in Kirkstall Valleybo.

Here’s a flyover of the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust site with a drone:

More details of the community share issue – and the chance to donate – can be found over at KVDT’s crowdfunding page.



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