Mill redevelopment 'unviable', councillors told

A multi-million pound redevelopment scheme for a former mill has become "unviable", a report to councillors has said.

The plan for the Marsden New Mills site, including light industrial units and offices, has so far received £5.6m levelling up cash and £11.7m of private sector funding.

However, Kirklees Council planners said increased costs meant the scheme would still require additional funding.

A second option, which would see some small changes made to the original plan, was also described by the authority as "requiring further funding".

According to the council's 2022 application for levelling up funding, the scheme in Marsden would include the partial demolition of the former mill, with a new mixed-use site of "light industrial units and office space built in its place".

The New Mills site - known locally as Crowther’s Mill - occupies about 1.5 hectares (15,000 sq m) of land bordered by Brougham Road, Warehouse Hill Road and Mill Road.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the majority of the buildings on the site were unoccupied and without listed status.

Pre-application documents proposed the demolition of several of the buildings, but council planners have expressed some concerns.

An application for planning permission is expected to be submitted in the near future.

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