Member Article

Farsley's Sunny Bank Mills complex fully let after £330k restoration

Farsley’s Sunny Bank Mills complex’s Festoon Rooms is now fully let following a £330k refurbishment.

More than 250 jobs have now been created at Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, where YTV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.

These buildings date back to in 1850 and were formerly used as finishing rooms; damp wool cloth was hung to dry in ‘festoons’ to create the famous London Shrunk finish.

Two new tenants, Adept Consulting Engineers and Dovetailers, have moved there. Adept Consulting Engineers have taken 2,013 sq ft of office space, while Dovetailors have taken 2.041 sq ft. All 5 units, comprising a total of 7,217 sq ft, are now occupied.

John Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have now let all five units at the Festoon Rooms and to welcome our two new tenants to this unique set of buildings. We feel proud to have done this in a challenging market for commercial property.

“We are seeing a steady flow of new tenants into Sunny Bank Mills, breathing new life into an historic complex.

“They are all excellent examples of successful businesses being attracted to a quality business environment and their arrival underlines the versatility and flexibility of space at Sunny Bank Mills, which is attracting an exciting breadth of occupiers.”

“Altogether we now have more than 45 companies on site, with more in the pipeline.”

Erol Erturan, the managing director of Adept Consulting Engineers, who have relocated to the Festoon Rooms from nearby Pudsey, commented: “We have moved into the Festoon Rooms because these wonderful premises reflect the progress we are making as a company. We are looking to expand and the extra space, plus the historic surroundings, are perfect.

“In addition, the rent we are paying is extremely competitive and the location of Sunny Bank Mills, midway between Leeds and Bradford and close to Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network, is superb,” said Mr Erturan.

David Wilson, who founded Yorkshire furniture and interiors specialist Dovetailors with his wife Emmanuelle in 2003, said: “We work extensively throughout Yorkshire, but also nationally, so Sunny Bank Mills is ideally placed for us”.

William Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse, added: “These two new lettings are a vindication of our belief in Farsley as an attractive out-of- town business location, even when faced with direct city centre competition. Our rents are in the region of £14 per sq ft, which we believe is exceptionally competitive, given the quality of our refurbished office space.”

Mike Haigh of Leeds property consultancy Dove Haigh Phillips, who are marketing Sunny Bank Mills with Jones Lang Lasalle, added: “This is an extraordinary success story. These two deals further vindicate the capital expenditure and attention to detail the inspirational regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills has created”.

Stuart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey commented: “I am very impressed to see such wonderful work being done to maintain and restore the heritage of Farsley.’

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .