New uses for the "Satanic mills"
Lister Mills in Bradford (pictured above courtesy of David Morley Architects) was once the world's largest silk factory. When it closed in the 1980s many thought it would be demolished for its stone. However developer Urban Splash showed what could be done with imagination and determination and the landmark was converted into apartments with fine views over the city. There remain another 1,350 mills in the West Riding of Yorkshire that lie empty. Many carry important cultural significance for the region.
Cushman and Wakefield will join Future Cities Forum on 13 June to discuss how to re-purpose heritage mill buildings. As part of a panel debating new roles for historic landmarks Stephen Miles will draw on his two commissions from Historic England which set out to review and develop best practice in the regeneration of West Yorkshire's and Lancashire's textile mills. Stephen comments: 'William Blake's enduring 19th century poem first put mills into our national consciousness. Re-purposed to offer high quality places to live and work, old textiles mills are shedding Blake's 'dark satanic label'. These symbols of our great industrial heritage now represent a significant opportunity for the future and a key part of the Northern Power House agenda.'