'We know there's a housing shortage, but this would be a huge loss for Salford'

In 1996, artist Bill Campbell spotted a sign at a former industrial mill in Salford advertising a space to rent. The building, constructed in 1823 for cotton spinning, had largely fallen into disuse by the 1990s.

Bill, who was living nearby, had plans to launch his career in the city, so took a chance - renting the fourth floor. Since then, he has become the owner of the Grade II-listed site known as Islington Mill, which is now a centre of art and culture in Salford and home to more than 100 creatives.

It has a community café and hosts regular events from live music to poetry. Many working there describe it as a 'haven' in a city that has battled deprivation and poverty.

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The space around Islington Mill, on Oldfield Road, has seen major changes in recent years, with the street being hemmed in with apartment blocks on either side to accommodate Salford's growing population.

One of the newest developments in the city will be on the Regent Trading Estate next to the mill. Bosses at the arts venue are worried it could put their future at risk.

A planning application from the English Cities Fund (ECF) for 90 new townhouses and flats on the land was approved after a tense meeting at Salford council on November 7.

One councillor said the development could lead to a repeat of what happened at Manchester's Day and Night Café, when residents living near the Northern Quarter venue complained about noise levels and sparked a court case.

Bosses at Islington Mill, supported by the Music Venue Trust, asked Salford town hall to rethink plans to build, fearing it could cause noise complaints from future residents. The