Rochdale council has completed the buyout of the long-abandoned Warwick Mill in Middleton town centre as part of a £3.3m package deal. The local authority sees the purchase of the Grade-II listed building as a major step forward for its plans to regenerate the town.
Historic Mill Bought in £3.3m Package
Built in 1907, the imposing former cotton mill has been vacant for years and has become an eyesore, regularly attracting vandalism and urban explorers. The neighbouring 1960s office block, London House, was included in the multi-million-pound deal with developers Kam Lei Fong. There are plans to demolish London House and bring the historic building back into use as new homes for the benefit of the community.
Plans to build 281 apartments and restore the complex with restaurant space and a rooftop garden were approved two years ago. But those plans never took off, which is why the council decided to take action.
Immediate Work to Begin
Work to transform the building will get under way quickly, according to town hall bosses. Rochdale firm Winterburns is set to take over security immediately, with a 24-hour presence on site. The firm will also start clearing the mountain of debris built up over years of neglect, including 1,000 tyres and overgrown plants and trees.
Teams will soon start the delicate internal strip out of Warwick Mill and London House. The demolition of London House is set to get under way in early 2027. The council will then begin the process of tendering a developer partner to undertake the longer-term work of bringing Warwick Mill back into use.
Council Leader Welcomes Public Control
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Warwick Mill is a key historic asset in the heart of Middleton, and I know that local residents have long been frustrated that it’s fallen into such a state of disrepair and I share that frustration. We’ve wanted to see it brought back into use for a number of years, but we’ve seen no real progress under successive owners.
“By buying it ourselves, we’re bringing it into public control and are now in a position to steer its future. Now it’s in our hands, we’re wasting no time in making immediate changes, with a local company leading this work for us.”
He added: “As such a key part of this area’s history and a major building in the heart of Middleton, this is a huge regeneration opportunity, with new homes something we’re particularly keen to explore for this site. With the rapidly emerging Middleton MDC, the Warwick Mill project is just the first of a series of regeneration schemes which will change the face of this whole area.”
Regeneration Backed by New MDC
The move will help kickstart Middleton’s next phase of regeneration, which has been galvanised by the creation of the Middleton Co-operative Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC). Led by Steve Coogan and Rose Marley, with the full support and backing of the council, the MDC has recently been rubber stamped by Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig, with final approval from the secretary of state expected early in 2027.
