Trio of deals for ex-Emmerdale mill
Three new deals have been completed at Sunny Bank Mills, the mill complex between Leeds and Bradford.
The owner says the deals, featuring tenants from the textile, HR and safety consultancy sectors, underline the “renaissance” of Sunny Banks Mills in Farsley, where YTV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.
Over the past seven years, the mill has been transformed into a modern office complex and now home to more than 70 companies, who employ a total of 355 staff.
One of the new tenants is Ansar Rahman, a bespoke tailor, who is opening his new studio Atelier Rahman at 3 Spinning Mill.
He said: “It is a dream come true to open my tailor’s studio in a textile mill steeped in history and heritage like Sunny Bank Mills. The symmetry is perfect.
“It is also great to be part of a community. Coming from a corporate background, I have always been surrounded by people so it will be great to be a part of an eclectic mix of talented individuals and organisations.”
Atelier Rahman, which is currently being fitted out, will open in the autumn.
Meanwhile Breathing Space HR is relocating from Stanningley to 13 Festoon Rooms at Sunny Bank Mills.
Suzie Bogle, managing director, said: “We are expanding fast, taking on larger businesses who see the value in outsourcing HR, particularly as they feel secure that everything will get done and we also ensure that they keep moving forward and get better with their people and their people get better and more productive.
“Business is good in Yorkshire and Sunny Bank Mills is well placed to get to all our clients as well as space for them to come and visit us. I have looked at Sunny Bank Mills as a potential location for years.”
Finally process safety consultants DEKRA have moved into the iconic 1912 Mill, the actual building where Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.
The company relocated to larger purpose-built premises in Southampton in 2015 and is now moving to new premises in Leeds to allow more of its team in the north of England to have a base.
William Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, said: “These three deals underline the versatility and flexibility of space at Sunny Bank Mills, which is attracting an exciting breadth of occupiers. They also illustrate the strength of the post-Brexit Yorkshire economy, with all three companies having the confidence to invest in new premises and in their future.
“More specifically, a bespoke tailor, a national safety consultancy firm and an expanding HR company and are varied and welcome additions to the Sunny Bank Mills community.”
The joint marketing agents for Sunny Bank Mills are JLL and Dove Haigh Phillips.
