Mill to be converted into microbrewery and gallery

The mill has already been granted £625,000 by Historic England

A former mill in Wakefield will be converted into a microbrewery, art gallery and exhibition space as part of a major regeneration.

The Grade II-listed Phoenix Mill is the oldest building in the city's Rutland Mills complex, dating back to around 1800.

Wakefield Council has given the go-ahead for its transformation into a home for cultural industries, which will include workspaces, recording studios and events venues.

The work forms the second phase of the Tileyard North project.

Phoenix Mill was built as a grain store in the 19th Century

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a council report said the plan was a "viable option that will ensure that the building is kept in use".

The documents stated: “It is considered that the public benefit of bringing this building into use outweighs the harm identified to the loss of some internal and external historic fabric and significance of the heritage asset.

“The submitted scheme has sufficiently demonstrated that the works can be implemented without resulting in significant harm to the listed building."

Historic England awarded a £625,000 grant to fund repairs to the building’s roof, drainage and walls, as well as new windows.

Historic England said the Phoenix Mill would now "rise from the ashes"

Investment in Tileyard North is part of the government’s Levelling Up programme.

Wakefield Council and City and Provincial Properties are also providing funding.

Phoenix Mill was originally a grain store before becoming a corn and textile mill later in the 19th Century.

The scheme has been welcomed by Wakefield Civic Society and the Association for Industrial Archaeology.

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