'Empty mills could reopen if council took control'

Leek's historic mills are now mostly empty but viability issues have so far prevented redevelopment

A series of vacant mill buildings in Staffordshire could be brought back into use if the council was to complete a compulsory purchase order (CPO), property experts have said.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council commissioned consultants from Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to update a 2022 study on Leek's historic mills, which are now mostly empty.

The study looked at six mills in Leek: London Mill in Ashbourne Road, Cross Street Mill, Well Street Mill, York Mill, Big Mill, and London Mill in London Street – along with three in Biddulph.

LSH concluded a CPO should only be seen as a "last resort".

The property consultants spoke to the private owners of the buildings, agents and stakeholders and found that while there was "clear interest and support" for redevelopment, viability issues had so far hampered progress.

The report encouraged the council to support efforts to convert the mills to residential use.

But LSH also said the council itself stepping in and taking ownership of the buildings could be an effective, if costly, way forward.

The report said: "The threat of CPO is an effective way to secure public ownership of the buildings and allow public grant to be made available.

"CPO should be seen as last resort and in the knowledge there was a firm commitment of funding available."