Mill renovation to bring in £30m
An old mill site in Staffordshire is set to be transformed into a multimillion-pound housing complex. The scheme at Uplands Mill in Biddulph is expected to generate a development value of £30m.
Birmingham-based developer Richborough Estates has sold the 16-acre site to Bovis Homes.
Bovis, which is planning to build family-style homes on the site, has been granted consent for 200 properties.
The developer said the total project has a gross development value of £30m.
Uplands Mill was formerly the home of ribbon manufacturer Selectus, which went into administration earlier this year.
At its peak, the business employed more than 400 workers, but that fell to 40 as its fabrics production moved to China.
Richborough’s director Paul Campbell said: “We secured the site in summer 2009, submitted a planning application in October, obtained permission in February and now it has been taken on by Bovis with everything in place for a swift go-ahead when they choose to do so. While the position of the sector overall remains gloomy there is genuine demand for family homes in strong market areas.
“But you need the right sites in the right area and you need to be offering the right product. We look for sites – like Uplands Mill – where we can add value and we have a good record of securing difficult planning permissions. We pride ourselves on identifying sites that large plc developers may have overlooked and we are always seeking new opportunities.”
