Application to demolish the main mill building of Vale Mills between Haworth and Oakworth:

26/03459/PIP | Permission in principle for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of 5 – 9 dwellings with associated works | Woodlands Farm 38 Wilsden Hill Road Wilsden Bradford West Yorkshire BD15 0BG

This application was reported in local and national media as converting this Victorian mill into housing, however upon scrutiny on the plans, the large 4 story mill building, which is the most prominent component of this historic site, was to be demolished. The grade II listed smaller L-shaped mill building would be the only retained element converted. This would be demolition by stealth.

A certificate of lawfulness was originally submitted to Bradford Council, which would not allow for the refusal of the proposal. Rather, it would have been an exercise in assessing whether or not the demolition is covered by permitted development laws.

However, I have been in touch with Heritage England, and they have clarified that because this building falls within the property boundary of the grade II listed mill building, it is at the discretion of the Local Authority as to whether or not the larger building is ‘curtilege listed’. Ward Councillors have been in touch with the Case Officer, so I hope that this proposal is considered unlawful under permitted development rights.

This is a beautiful old mill building complementing the topography of the Worth Valley, and adding to the heritage landscape that the KWVR preserved steam railway navigates. Surely if the developer is mobilising the talent needed to convert half of this mill into residential use, they may as well do the job properly and utilise all of the mill.