Financial checks delay sale of arson-hit mills

The site has been hit by another fire in the past fortnight

Financial checks have delayed the sale of a Grade II-listed mill that has suffered several arson attacks.

The Crown Estate took responsibility for Dalton Mills in Keighley after the previous owner went bankrupt and a restoration project collapsed.

A number of bidders have come forward to buy the site and have proposed schemes to convert it and bring it back into use.

But solicitors acting for the Crown said they were still trying to establish what debts might be attached to the building before selling it.

The site remains insecure despite a number of fires and trespass incidents

Zoe Longman is a director with Bristol-based Burges Salmon, which is handling the sale.

She said: "We have got lists of people who are interested in purchasing the property.

"But it's not done as an auction because the Crown Estate can only dispose of a new freehold interest and that's subject to any legal charges on it.

"At the moment we are still trying to find out from the trustee the amount of the legal charges because anybody interested in purchasing will be wanting to know that information."

The building is currently ownerless and has been targeted by vandals due to poor site security. The most recent fire on 20 August affected 20% of the ground floor.

The largest fire, which was started deliberately by two teenage boys in 2022, destroyed the main part of the complex.

They will be sentenced in October for causing the damage to Genappe Mill.

No-one actually owns the site although a number of bidders have come forward to buy it

Jane Lee is honorary secretary of the Keighley Civic Society, which is campaigning to save the mills.

She said: "Time is of the essence here. We know the Crown Estate is doing its best to get this expedited, but it really is now a serious issue.

"It's (the site) dangerous. It's a danger to life. It is the school holidays and children are using it.

"In fact the initial huge fire was started by two young lads. We know that it's a magnet for young people."

In 2013 developer Paul Harris bought Dalton Mills after it had lain empty since the 1980s. He was the owner at the time of the 2022 arson.

However, the main building was never renovated and was instead hired out for TV filming, including as a location for Peaky Blinders. A number of ancillary buildings at the site were restored.