Empty Mossley mill will be turned into housing

The abandoned Britannia New Mill in Mossley will be demolished and replaced with housing.

The former industrial complex on Queen Street, just off Manchester Road, was last in use back in 2022. It will now be transformed into 49 new homes.

A four-storey apartment block with 32 flats and 17 semi-detached, terraced and townhouses will be built by developers Holmpatrick Ltd. 

All the new homes will be available for affordable rates (up to 80 per cent of market value). Tameside council’s latest planning panel meeting was told how a new riverside walkway will also be created within the ‘buffer zone’ between the site and the River Tame. 

The proposal includes the provision of 50 car parking spaces, with 14 for the apartment block, 30 allocated spaces for the houses and six visitor spaces. The site will be managed by housing provider Onward Homes.

At the meeting within Droylsden’s Guardsman Tony Downes House, there was strong support for the scheme amongst the panel of councillors. Cllr Doreen Dickinson said it ‘ticks all the boxes’. 

However, the developer’s planning agent, Philip Millson, was quizzed by Cllr Jake Frater why financial contributions towards local green space and road infrastructure was reduced to £49,000. He explained that a viability study detailed how, because this is a 100 percent affordable home development, no financial contributions would have been required by the council.

Mr Millson added: “In reality we could argue that we didn’t have to make any financial contribution. The developer has provided this as a gesture of goodwill.”

The financial contributions will go towards improving pedestrian access to Queen Street and local biodiversity, the meeting was told.

Planning papers read: “The proposed redevelopment comprises the construction of 49 new homes including access improvements, car parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure following demolition of the existing buildings on site.

“The proposal will result in a housing policy compliant high-quality form of development within Mossley. The site is in a highly accessible urban location with easy access to public transport, shops, services, and amenities.”

The plans were unanimously approved by the council’s planning panel on September 9.

Britannia New Mill should not be confused with Britannia Mill, its neighbour fronting Manchester Road, which has been earmarked for redevelopment by the Millson Group. In 2021 Tameside council approved plans to knock down Britannia Mill, built in 1851, and construct 62 new apartments.