A DERELICT mill built more than 150 years ago on the banks of the River Hull could be about to get a new lease of life.

Next week, councillors will visit the former High Flags mill complex before deciding on whether to grant planning permission to convert it into apartments.

Lying in the heart of industrial Wincolmlee, the prospect of new riverfront residents rubbing shoulders with a number of neighbouring heavy engineering companies seems unlikely.

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But haulage company boss Derek Longbone, who has a business immediately next to the old mill, has welcomed the ambitious plans by developer James Calligan.

He said: “It’s a brave move but I will take my hat off to him if he can pull it off.

“The mill buildings are in a bit of a state but if they can be retai- ned and redeveloped I think it would benefit the whole area and would be good for Hull.

“There are lots of similar empty buildings like this around here and it might encourage other people to do something similar.”

Mr Longbone said concerns expressed by some businesses about the impact of existing noise levels on people who might end up living at the mill were understandable.

He said: “We had the same thing when we were in Cottingham.

“They built houses near our yard and suddenly we started getting complaints.

“Down here, I think people would be aware of where they were moving to because it’s surrounded by industry.”

The towering twin mills on the site were originally operated by Hull firm Chambers and Fargus.

They take their name from High Flags wharf, which was named after the large paving stones laid along the riverbank where ships once landed barrels of whale oil.

The mill closed in 1991. At the time it was Hull’s last expelling mill, where seed was broken down into fine meal, cooked and then put through an expelling process to force the oil out.

A year later it was awarded grade two listed building status to reflect its historic importance in relation to the city’s seed crushing industry.

Ahead of next week’s planning committee, council officers are recommending conditional approval of the conversion scheme.

It features a total of 44, one and two-bed flats in both old mill buildings and a former office fronting Wincolmlee.

The officers’ report says: “The proposal represents the first major interest in the buildings since they became vacant and redundant and it offers a lifeline to them. The buildings are in a poor state of repair and are in desperate need of reuse if they are to survive.”

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