There are currently 237 unused mills in the region, according to new report

Repurposing historic mills in Yorkshire could provide nearly 9,000 homes, Historic England has said.

There are currently 237 vacant and underused mills in the region which could become “wonderful homes, workplaces and cultural spaces”, the organization said in a new report.

It said that refurbishing the buildings also offered a greener alternative than new build developments.

Salts Mill

Salts Mill in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, has been converted into a retail and leisure space

The report said there was also space for 15,400 homes on land surrounding the sites, and enough space in existing mills for almost 30,000 jobs if transformed into workspaces.

It added that there is more than eight million sq ft of unused floor space in mills, which Historic England’s Trevor Mitchell described as “such an important part of our history, culture and landscape”.

The report has been presented to the Northern Culture All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Conservative MP Jason McCartney, the group’s vice chair, told the BBC that conversions could “make a valuable contribution to the community”.

Acre Mill, which is located in McCartney’s Cone Valley constituency, has been redeveloped into the NHS Outpatients Department for Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

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