High-speed broadband connection on the cards at £25m mill redevelopment

THE £25m redevelopment of a historic textile mill complex in Skipton is under way in one of Yorkshire's biggest mixed-use schemes to start on site in the last two years.

Building work on the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Belle Vue Mills, on Broughton Road, which will create 80,000 sq ft of office and leisure space, has been started by North Midland Construction.

The firm is carrying out the work for Leeds-based property company Rushbond after it acquired the development, in June, from Novo Homes, which created the Glista Mills residential apartment at the same site.

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When finished, the entire complex will create more than 150,000 sq ft of commercial, leisure and residential space surrounding a new landscaped square with public art, and could become a base for more than 1,000 people living or working there.

A total of 40,000 sq ft has been pre-let at the building – which is to be named Craven House – with 30,000 sq ft taken by Craven District Council and North Yorkshire County Council. They will occupy the ground, first and second floors in the north and west wings to create a new civic centre for Skipton with the re-located council chambers and registry office due to complete in spring 2011.

Medical healthcare staffing company Medacs Healthcare, will open its first Yorkshire base in the building after taking 10,000 sq ft.

Negotiations are under way to provide all tenants with high-speed broadband connection.

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The east-wing ground floor is earmarked for three leisure units, shops or a caf, with potential to expand into the landscaped square.

Belle Vue Mills, which fronts Leeds-Liverpool canal, was built by businessman John Dewhirst in 1828 as a spinning and weaving mill. It later operated as a cotton mill.

Mike Hartley, Rushbond development director, said: "We believe that Belle Vue Mills will become a location of regional significance. The ability for companies to conduct a vast range of business electronically means that it is no longer imperative to be based in cities, and Craven House will offer 1gb of high-speed broadband, which is not available to most office occupiers in Leeds and Bradford."

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