By John Baron
A former mill building in Wortley, which has been targeted by arsonists in the past, has been granted planning permission to be transformed into an apartment block.
A planning application submitted in October by Wakefield-based developer Ivan Smith of PH Tong Road Ltd would see the first, second and third floors at empty Swallow Hill Mills, on Tong Road, converted into 18 apartments. The ground floor is not intended to be changed in use and Mr Smith says it will be let to a suitable tenants, such as a nursery.
Council planning officers this week approved the application, subject to a raft of planning conditions, including the developer producing a plan showing details of all vehicle parking and turning areas, and additional plans for Electric Vehicle Charging Points.
The planning application stated: “The former drawing office and printer supplies company previously using the building has ceased trading now for over a year and as such the building is empty and declining in condition due to neglect and vandalism.
“20 car parking spaces will be provided to the existing car park from the former drawing office and printing supplies firm, which previously occupied the building. The car park is fully accessible and is accessed via the existing highway connection to Silver Royd Hill, suitable for both cars and larger service vehicles.”
The mill building had been subjected to a number of arson attacks, and WLD put the building’s history in the spotlight back in January 2022.
The full planning application and documents can be found here.
A parallel application, to turn the building into serviced apartments, was submitted in November and is still to be decided by Leeds City Council planners.
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Great to see something finally happening with this building. Too much antisocial behaviour around it
There’s always an emphasis on parking provision and installation of electric charging points with these applications, and quite rightly so, but it seems that the plans approved for converting the old Farsley Liberal club got away with no dedicated parking or charging points. Its smaller development, yes, but surely should have had to make some provisions for this?