Village group raises doubts over ambitious plans for regeneration of mills

COUNCILLORS will today be asked to approve the renovation and re-use of a landmark former mill.

Hartley Property Group’s plans for two large buildings at Globe Mills next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, include the creation of an Innovation Centre to support small and growing enterprises, primarily in the technology sector.

The company also wants to use the buildings as the head-
quarters of clothing company Crombie, which is owned by the Hartley Group.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The scheme also includes space for retail use, a nursery, cafe, offices, gallery space, a new parking deck and a footbridge linking the mills and another footbridge over the canal.

The existing chimney will be demolished. A council report is recommending the plans be approved.

However, village group Keep Slaithwaite Special (KSS) has produced a report which claims the retail aspect of the scheme could damage the vitality of the village centre.

The group previously opposed plans for an Aldi supermarket in the village centre but the application was granted earlier this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The KSS report says: “The bottom line is that...we do not believe Slaithwaite can sustain both the Globe Mill and Aldi supermarket development.

“We remain extremely concerned that the ultimate potential level of retail development in the Globe Mill regeneration is far too high and could itself destroy the vitality and viability of Slaithwaite village centre.”

The village group claims that the retail space being proposed in the mills is the equivalent to a “very large supermarket”.

“In our view the council should not grant planning permission for any aspect of Globe Mills regeneration until binding commitments are made by the developer regarding the composition of the retail offer.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council received five letters in support of the plans and five against.

A report by council planning officers concluded that the proposals would improve Slaithwaite’s retail offer “and therefore it is likely that the developments would result in increased levels of expenditure being retained in the area”.

“This could assist the centre as a whole by improving the attractiveness of the centre and through the creation of linked trips.”

Related topics: