Leeds firm to restore two mills into affordable apartments

Redrow has appointed Leeds-based Dimestage (Construction Company) Ltd to convert two mill buildings into affordable apartments as part of its flagship development, Woodlands at Horsforth Vale, on the edge of Horsforth.

The restoration work has already begun to convert the buildings on the old Riverside Mills site, off Low Hall Road, which is earmarked for 127 new homes and sits alongside redevelopment of the former Clariant Works to form Redrow’s wider Horsforth Vale location.

The mill buildings were required to be retained as part of Redrow’s planning consent and will provide six stylish apartments, to be offered by a housing association as affordable homes.

It’s the second time Redrow and Dimestage have worked together, with the construction firm’s historic building specialists having previously restored a listed viaduct within a Redrow development in North Yorkshire.

In Horsforth, a wool mill had existed on the Woodlands site pre-1851. Originally known as Rawdon Low Mill, it was latterly known as Riverside Mills and, until 2000, was a dyeing and twisting mill for Colourflex.

Chris Donaghy, contracts director for Dimestage, said he is delighted to be preserving such an important part of West Yorkshire’s heritage.

“The mills formed a vital part of the area’s history and now, happily, they’ll be a part of its future, providing new affordable homes for local people. The growth and development of areas like Horsforth relied on industry, and it is important that we honour such a crucial role.

“Besides which, these mills are fantastic buildings and to have left them to rot and ruin would have been such a shame. It is a great opportunity to be able to preserve them, and exciting when the past and present can be fused together to create something wonderful.”

“The beauty of these buildings lies very much in the solid, stone exterior,” added Chris. “There will be a link between the two apartment buildings, for which we have had to source 190 sq metres of reclaimed Yorkshire stone, native to the area, to ensure it blends in with the original stone work.

“We will retain all the detailing on the outside like the window sills and heads, and the corbels - the ornate mouldings - around the gutterline. And, while it will have a very modern and stylish interior, because the walls are so thick the windows will have lovely, deep recesses, and there will be great depth created by the high ceilings.”

Each apartment will have a lounge and kitchen/dining area, a central hallway and a bathroom, along with a storeroom. The two bedroom apartments will also have a laundry. Each kitchen will be fully fitted with a range of quality appliances.

This second contract has been awarded after Dimestage renovated a Grade II listed Victorian railway viaduct in Newton Kyme at a cost of around £500,000. This will facilitate its reopening to pedestrians and the extension of a Sustrans national cycle route. The viaduct forms part of Redrow’s Southbank development, previously the old Papyrus Works, where a historic clocktower at the entrance to the site has also been restored.

John Handley, commercial director at Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) said: “When you have such heritage in your hands, it is vital that the work is done to an impeccable standard.

“This will be the second time we have worked with Dimestage in the last 12 months, and we have been assured by the quality of the work they have already demonstrated.”

As well as the apartments, Woodlands will boast a range of three, four and five-bedroom new-build detached and semi-detached homes from Redrow’s award-winning Heritage collection, with traditional Arts & Crafts exteriors and a modern, family friendly interior design.

Surrounded by trees and alongside the River Aire, it is set in a beautiful, rural location, while still within easy reach of Leeds and all that the city has to offer.

For more details of homes at The Woodlands, call 0113 318 1107, or call into the sales and marketing suite, usually open daily between 10am and 5.30pm. Alternatively, visit www.redrow.co.uk/woodlands