Applause for green offices scheme from a former Red

Neville, who is said to have a particular interest in the environment and is currently having an eco-home built on the moors between Bury and Bolton, agreed to open the Old Corn Mill, near Penistone.

The Old Corn Mill is one of only about a dozen “carbon negative” commercial properties in England and Wales.

A combination of solar panels, wind turbines and water power means the building at Millhouse Green produces more energy than it consumes.

The former full-back was joined for yesterday’s opening by Communities Minister Andrew Stunell MP.

Neville said: “It’s great to see offices like this being built. It just shows that businesses as well as individuals can do their bit for the environment.”

Charles Booth, the man behind the Old Corn Mill, said: “It’s an honour to have all these people coming to the opening and it just shows that it is a really special building. The location on the edge of the Pennines is perfect to harness nature.

“It sounds a bit utopian, but it has to be the way forward for buildings of the future. And what makes this building all the more remarkable is that part of it is 250 years old.”

Two tenants have already moved into the Old Corn Mill – a solar PV installer and Danish furniture manufacturer.

Martin Beasley, of Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Something as unusual as this is bound to attract businesses to the area and that is great for the local economy.”

Meanwhile, Wakefield and District Housing’s newly-completed Park Dale project, thought to be the UK’s largest zero carbon social housing development, will be opened on Wednesday, November 2, in Castleford.

Weatherman Paul Hudson will cut the ribbon to open the 91-home eco-friendly estate.

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