 |
The Mill is on the western edge of the Houldsworth Conservation Area, two miles north of the centre of Stockport. The two mill buildings are separated by an administration block which has an entranceway leading to a courtyard and the Engine House Complex. The buildings have a semi-basement comprising the former three-storey Beam Engine House, adjacent two-storey Workshops, and ornate 300ft high brick octagonal chimney, all dating from 1865. It also includes the 1902 Engine House, Garage / Workshop, built sometime after 1911. The Mill ceased to operate in 1958 and has since had a variety of uses as workshops, offices and retail outlets. The South Mill has recently been converted to apartments and a fitness centre and offices have been developed in the North Mill and Administration Block. The area around the Mill has also been improved. |
 |
The communities’ views on the proposed use of the Complex were sought. A good response was received with suggestions for a restaurant, heritage centre, café, bar, function room, performance areas, childcare centre, meeting rooms and various types of offices. Various organisations expressed interest in acquiring space to provide the foregoing functions and also arts & crafts, healthy living and access training centres, a design unit and music studio. |
 |
Eight
schemes with a mix of community and commercial uses were developed based
on responses from the consultations. The chosen scheme maximises
revenue potential whilst providing a mix of community and commercial uses.
On completion the Trust could manage the Complex itself or could sell the
lease to a separate Community Trust that should then be eligible for
funding to cover acquisition and fitting out costs.
The capital costs for the preferred option were estimated to be £1.1m with potential funding sources identified. From initial information by potential tenants it appears that 30 full time and 23 part time jobs might be created and between 250 and 350 visitors per week would visit the Complex with a revenue balance of £17,500pa. |
| Home | Top |
|
Pauline Roscoe & Associates Heritage and Environmental Management 183 Town Lane Whittle-le-Woods Chorley Lancashire PR6 8AG UK Tel / Fax 01257 260157 Mobile 07944 857741 email pr@pauline-roscoe.co.uk |
|
