A new wine retailer could soon be moving into Farsley’s Sunny Bank Mills complex, after plans were approved by Leeds City Council.
Sunny Bank is being regenerated by cousins John and William Gaunt, who are undertaking an ambitious programme which has transformed the former textile mill into one of the largest and most successful cultural communities in Yorkshire.
It’s a renaissance which has been the catalyst for the regeneration of Farsley’s bustling village centre, with cafes, restaurants, a bookshop and other independents all benefiting from the work at Sunny Bank Mills.
New plans approved by Leeds City Council planning officers include changing two units in the Twisting Gallery from ‘offices/industrial/storage’ to ‘retail/food and drink use’ with an ancillary office. The name of the new wine retailer has not been revealed.
A design and access statement submitted with the application said: “The site has been undergoing a demolition and regeneration project, which includes the demolition of redundant warehouse buildings adjacent to the application units.
“These works have provided an opportunity to realise our aspiration of bringing the public into the heart of the site and provides new opportunities for small independent businesses to set up in spaces that weren’t previously possible.”
A planning officer’s report approving the plan concluded: “The proposed change of use is considered to represent a similar form of development and thus create a similar impact compared to that of the current lawful use with the mill building located within a designed town centre.
“The proposed changes are not considered to create further harm in terms of highway safety or an additional adverse impact upon amenity, subject to the aforementioned conditions.”
Planning permission was granted subject to several conditions, including the opening hours being between 10am until 12.30am Friday and Saturday, and 10am until 11pm Sunday to Thursday.
The plans and council reports can be viewed in full here.
Sponsored content
