Makeover for historic 1912 Mill
A YORKSHIRE mill, well known for being the filming location for scenes from TV programmes Emmerdale and Heartbeat, has been given a £2m makeover.
The 1912 Mill, part of historic family-owned complex Sunny Bank Mills, has been transformed into a 21st century business centre.
The mills, in Farsley, West Yorkshire, are being extensively renovated to provide space for small and medium-sized businesses in West Yorkshire.
Three new lettings have been announced at Sunny Bank, one in the 1912 Mill itself; one in the Sandsgate building, which was the original mill office; and one in the Festoon Rooms.
The new tenants are Essex-based Prestige Graphics, which has taken 4,500 sq ft on the second floor of the 1912 Mill; Stroud Consulting, which has taken a 300 sq ft suite in Sandsgate; and Northern Light Studio Photography, which has taken a 2,000 sq ft pre-let in the Festoon Rooms, which will be ready for occupation in December.
John Gaunt, co-director of Edwin Woodhouse, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, commented: “We are delighted to welcome such a diverse and high quality range of businesses to the community at Sunny Bank Mills.
“I think the pedigree of business reflects the quality of the refurbishments and that even in the teeth of recession, Sunny Bank Mills and Farsley can succeed in its mission of being a creative space for business. We are very proud to have achieved these three significant lettings and looking forward to building on this success.”
Other tenants include Richard Moran Photography, Powerhouse Digital Photography, travel agency Uncover The World, the Yorkshire Physiotherapy Network and Jackaboos Play Gym, which has just signed a new lease.
Mike Dove, of Leeds-based property consultants Dove Haigh Phillips, said: “The refurbishment of the 1912 Mill is a complete triumph, a wonderful balance of cutting edge modern office space in an environment rich in history and heritage. The attention to detail is stunning and the 1912 Mill now provides arguably the finest office space in the Leeds-Bradford corridor.
“The crowning glory of the 1912 Mill is the top floor, which has been lovingly restored and where the fabulous new Northern Light window, the first new northern light roof in northern England, stands out. This creates a stunning commercial penthouse. The owners of Sunny Bank Mills took the brave decision to invest heavily in this building and, indeed in the rest of the complex, and this decision has paid dividends.”
There are two 8,700 sq ft offices on two floors available to rent in the 1912 Mill, with nearly 9,000 sq ft of office space at Sandsgate over three floors and more than 2,000 sq ft of quality studio and business space in the Festoon Rooms.
Mr Gaunt added there are plans to open a 130-cover restaurant at the Sunny Bank Mills site.
Having stopped textile production in 2008, joint directors and cousins William and John Gaunt decided to restore the mills to their former commercial glory.
The Gaunts’ ancestor John Gaunt was one of the clothiers who opened the original mill in 1829.
The joint marketing agents with Dove Haigh Phillips are the Leeds office of Jones Lang Lasalle.
