A BID to turn part of listed former textile mills on the edge of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Skipton into new homes is due to be determined today.
Belle Vue Mills Ltd, part of Rushbond plc, which owns the Belle Vue Mills landmark buildings within the Skipton Conservation Area, wants permission to convert and extend the east wing of the site’s main block into 39 apartments.
The large group of former textile manufacturing buildings at Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, are Grade II listed as being of special architectural or historic interest.
Members of Craven Council’s Planning Committee will be advised to grant planning permission when they meet today. The development, which would comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, would also include a new entrance lobby, canopy and roof terraces.
The existing ground floor commercial units would be retained with the remaining ground floor space providing an entrance lobby, bin store, spaces for bicycles and residents’ community lounge.
A report to be considered by councillors says that English Heritage is supportive of the re-development for residential use but has recommended the position of the roof terraces be revised.
Craven Council has received letters from seven people about the scheme. Critics claim there is not enough car parking provision for residents and visitors and servicing and deliveries to the site would cause problems.
There are also claims people in nearby properties would suffer a loss of amenity “due to loss of off-street parking” and that the proposals would result in a “further loss of employment land in Skipton”.
But the report to councillors says that residents’ concerns about the impact on amenity from congestion due to off-street parking are not sufficient to justify refusing planning permission. It adds that the east wing has remained vacant for several years and the re-use of the building is “therefore to be welcomed”.
The mill, which was used for spinning and weaving cotton and manufacturing sewing thread dates back to 1867.