Demolition plans scrapped for 19th Century mill

The mill was once a major part of the textile industry in Keighley

Plans to demolish a 19th Century mill to make way for a modern industrial park have been scrapped.

Developers had applied to flatten Walk Mills in Keighley and replace it with 12 modern industrial buildings, with a planning application stating the building was "not fit for modern usage" and the redevelopment would attract more businesses.

However, the application by B&E Boys has now been withdrawn, though the reason is not known.

There had been numerous concerns raised over the plans, with the Environment Agency pointing out that parts of the site were on a flood plain.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), while there were currently 40 employees on the site, the application said the new units would raise that number to 100.

Walk Mills was once a major part of the town's textile industry, but since textile production at the site ended in the 1970s, parts of the building, including its chimney, have been demolished and it is now divided into smaller units.

The Victorian Society had objected to the proposed works, saying: "These are solid and attractive buildings, surviving examples of the once-ubiquitous mill buildings that dominated this area and are now increasingly dwindling in numbers."

The LDRS has contacted the developers to ask why they withdrew the plans, but has yet to receive a response.

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