By John Baron
Detailed plans for nine apartments at the Sunny Bank Mills complex in Farsley have been approved by council planners.
The proposals will see changes at the historic 1912 Mill and external alterations to the Dyehouse building on the site – but it could be ‘some years’ before the proposals come to fruition.
Since 2010 William and John Gaunt have been running a multi-million pound regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills and the latest proposals are the next stage of their plan to develop the site as a thriving mixed-use development.
The Dyehouse Building at Sunny Bank Mills.
Outline planning permission was first granted in 2015, which means the development had already been agreed in principle. The reserved matters application relates to appearance and layout only.
The proposal seeks to convert the empty Dyehouse building into a restaurant, with the ground floor converted into a kitchen area with a large dining area along with a further upper dining area space on the first floor.
The empty third floor of the 1912 Mill would be transformed into nine, one and two bedroom apartments.
The first floor of the 1912 Mill will become the new gallery, with ancillary tea room and shop, which is currently based in the Sandsgate building off Town Street. The existing gallery in Sandsgate would become a business space.
William Gaunt, joint managing director of Sunny Bank Mills, welcomed the decision. He said: “In 2015, when the original planning permission was granted for the regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills, there remained a number of aspects of the development to clarify with Leeds City Council within 10 years, once further details were known.
“Now that the 10-year anniversary has been reached, we are pleased to say that these details have been agreed, securing the continued regeneration of the Mills for future generations.
“However, it could be some years before these proposals come to fruition. We are really grateful to the local community for helping with the consultations over the past years and for their continued support of Sunny Bank Mills.”
A council planning report approving the plans concludes: “The reserved matters scheme is not considered to have a significant detrimental impact on neighbouring residential amenity nor upon the character or appearance of the conservation area. It ensures highway safety is preserved along with the historic character of Sunny Bank Mills and the wider Farsley Conservation Area.”
All internal works and the replacement of windows will be dealt with through the submission of a separate application for Listed Building Consent.
The plans can be viewed in full here.
Sponsored content
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/kirkstall