Owners take pinch of Salt to help revive historic city mill

Leeds (West) Food Bank’s new head office and portrait photographer Karen Gavin are set to move into Sunny Bank Mills, in Farsley.

The historic textile mill provided the backdrop for the filming of Yorkshire Television’s popular series Emmerdale and Heartbeat.

Staff from Leeds (West) Food
Bank will use the mill as a new base for their administration and head office facilities.

Lucy Pitkin, the co-ordinator for Leeds (West) Food Bank, said: “There is a huge need for a food
bank in West Leeds.”

The owners of Sunny Bank Mills are reviving the site in Farsley by taking inspiration from Bradford’s World Heritage Site, Salts Mill.

The renovation aims to reclaim the mill’s status as one of the west Leeds village’s biggest employers.

Over the past three years, Sunny Bank Mills has been transformed into a creative and administrative hub which has led to the creation of 200 new jobs.

John Gaunt, the joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse, which owns Sunny Bank Mills, praised the new arrivals as another significant step forward.

He added: “These two new lettings underline our commitment both to the community and to the arts.

“With our new art gallery now open, Sunny Bank Mills is a genuine hub for the creative sector.”

Mr Gaunt’s vision for the future includes creating a grand piazza area complete with cafés, a restaurant and a spa.

After almost two centuries, the Gaunt family took the decision in 2008 to halt textile production at the historic west Leeds mill.