'It's an exciting period for Manchester': Building work starts on Grade-II listed mill

Building work has started on converting a historic New Islington mill into more than 150 apartments, it’s been confirmed.

The £50 million project will see grade-II listed Brunswick Mill house 153 flats once complete. They will be one, two, and three-bedroom homes, according to sales agent firm Orlando Reid.

A second phase, after the mill conversion, will involve constructing 127 homes on Bradford Road — with housing in four and seven-storey blocks. Work is expected to be finished by early 2026.

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"I'm enthusiastic about this transformative endeavour, it's an exciting period… for the city of Manchester,” Baljit Arora, managing director at Orlando Reid, said. “The project involves converting a historically listed building into luxurious residences that exude character, providing a unique and appealing option for both buyers and tenants in the local market."

The project was granted planning permission in September 2021, when the building — said to be in a very poor condition — was owned by Maryland Securities. Since then, it has been purchased by Arrowsmith Investments, now the developers.

John Cooper, a partner at Deloitte advising the developers, told the committee meeting in 2021 not to underestimate the ‘sheer scale of the building and repairs’ required.

“The applicant demonstrated that the proposals can viably support that cost and will deliver the long-term sustainable use of the site,” he said.