Derelict mill is in 'safe condition' - council

A derelict mill is not considered to be in a "dangerous condition", a council has said.

Low Mill, on Gresley Road in Keighley, dates back to the late 1770s and is believed to be the first cotton mill built in Yorkshire.

Plans for the property to be converted into flats fell through and the Grade II* listed building has deteriorated, with sections of its exposed roof collapsing.

A recent meeting of Bradford Council heard officers from the authority had continued to monitor the building and were "working with partners and funding organisations to determine ways forward for bring the mill back into use".

The mill was powered by water diverted from the River Worth through a series of sluices.

The West Yorkshire Archaeological Advisory Service has said the site is "of national and arguably international significance in the development of the region's textile industry."

It has previously been placed on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register, which lists sites at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

Plans to turn the mill into flats were approved 20 years ago but work never began.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, when asked what measures the council was taking to ensure the mill was preserved, the authority said officers were aware of "various third parties actively looking at proposals which would involve conversion of the Grade II* listed building".

They confirmed no planning applications had been submitted for the site and said the planning enforcement team monitored the building to the ensure it remained safe.

"At present it is not considered dangerous, but we continue to carefully monitor the status of the property," a council spokesperson said.

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