ONE of Bradford’s most imposing mill buildings will be converted into flats after a major redevelopment scheme was approved.

Grade II listed Barkerend Mill is a six storey former spinning mill on the edge of Bradford city centre that has been empty for years.

In October a planning application to convert the huge building, and neighbouring North Mill, into flats was submitted to Bradford Council.

Barkerend Mill LTD planned to create 117 flats in the two main mill buildings, and demolish a smaller building, Tahiti Mill.

There would be parking for 61 cars and “high quality amenity space” between the two buildings.

On Friday the application was approved by planning officers.

Barkerend Mill was built in the 1870s, and at its height employed over 400 people. It is thought that the building was designed by Bradford based Architects Milnes and France and was built to be fireproof.

It was listed in 1983.

The surviving mill was part of a much larger collection of industrial buildings, many of which were demolished in the 1990s.

The remaining buildings have since been used for storage and the manufacture of aquariums.

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There have been two fires at the mill buildings in recent years, and North Mill is without a roof due to the damage caused by one blaze.

When the plans were submitted, the applicants said: “The upmost care and effort will be taken to conserve key original features in the main mill building such as the engine room and “Rope Race” to the northern elevation which originally housed the belt drives for the spinning machines.”

Approving the conversion, planning officers said: “The proposed development will bring an imposing building back into use. Both the buildings (Barkerend Mill and North Mill) have been subject recently to arson attempts and is starting to fall into disrepair.

“The proposal will retain as many of the existing features as possible particularly in relation to the openings. Some new features will be created on the building such as balconies for some of the units but these will not detract from the visual appearance of the building.”

Conservation officers added: “The mill buildings require new uses to ensure their survival, maintenance and a long term secure sustainable future.

“In principle, they are well located for residential use, and such use could be achieved without loss of fundamental architectural or historic significance.”

They said the demolition of the smaller Tahiti Mill will not harm the site’s significance.

There had been studies to see if there were any bat roosts on the site. This found no evidence of bats living in the huge building, but added: ““one bat very briefly entered one of the buildings; based on the activity observed and the nature of this particular interaction it is concluded that the bat in question has no dependence on the mill building, and it would not be impacted in any material way by its renovation.”

The development will contain 58 1-bed flats, 52 2-bed flats and 7 3-bed flats. Officers said: “This represents a good mix of unit sizes and provides accommodation for single people, couples and families.”

Conditions of the approval include that the site has at least six electric vehicle charging points.