Major plans to transform historic mill buildings on the border of Farnley and Wortley into 28 homes and build 98 new townhouses have been submitted by developers.
Protected Stonebridge Mills, which dates back to pre-1805 as steam-powered woollen mill, is Grade II Listed. But a planning statement by developers Stonebridge Mills Ltd says the redevelopment of the historic mills would be ‘sympathetic’:
“The scheme will breathe new life into this vacant and derelict site and will enable these run-down historic buildings to be brought back into beneficial and active use, helping to secure their long-term future.”
It goes on to add:
“The site is long vacant, partly as a result of the economic recession but more specifically as a result of the numerous physical constraints on the site. This has led to a significant decline in the physical fabric of the heritage assets on site, resulting in the [buildings] now being in urgent need of investment and regeneration.”
A range of housing, from two-bed to five-bed properties, would be included in the site. A new parkland area woudl also be created alongside Wortley Beck and access to the site would be off Stonebridge Lane.
Developers say the mill pond on the site would be removed. In addition, the proposal includes the demolition of two Grade II Listed Buildings, Metre House and Cottages to the south of the site and the row of workshops to the north-west of the site.
The plans for the site come three years after Tesco’s bid to transform the disused building into a supermarket were scrapped following local opposition.
The new proposals can be viewed in full – and commented upon – here.
What do you think of the proposals? Have your say in the poll below.
It’s Farnley ffs and Farnley beck
Has anyone any idea if there has been a field survey ?been done on the the site of worley mills to see if any protected species. I.e.nesting birds. Flowers. Bushes. Frogs.toads.dragonflies ect as to put a presivation on it to limit is use