12 May, 2026
Two mill transformations taking shape: Royd Edge & Britannia Mills
At Royd Edge Mills, work is well underway on the redevelopment of the former mill site into new residential housing. A big part of the project has been the careful consideration of land balance and value engineering, helping to make the most of the site while still respecting its character and natural surroundings.
One of the more complex challenges so far has been the existing mill pond, where a leaky retaining wall meant the original approach needed to be reconsidered – not just repaired, but properly rethought. Instead, the approach has been to move the solution further upstream, introducing a new headwall around 100m back and allowing the area to be fully re-landscaped. This has opened up the opportunity to create a beautiful new watercourse, designed to sit naturally within the setting and support local ecology, with fish and wildlife returning to the area over time.
The wider vision for the site is to transform it into a high-quality residential development that feels closely connected to its landscape, and that’s already taking shape with phases progressing and early homes coming forward for sale.
Meanwhile, at Britannia Mills in Slaithwaite, we’ve been supporting the careful refurbishment of another historic mill building. The mill is being transformed into a gym, giving it a completely new purpose. But before that can happen, we’re currently giving the building a lot of attention. Years of wear had taken their toll, and much of the work has centred on making the structure sound again, including extensive internal repair and re-roofing works.
As the work has progressed, the character of the building is starting to shine through again: exposed timber trusses, original brickwork, and stone detailing that speaks to its industrial heritage. These are features that had been hidden or at risk, which are now becoming part of the space again. That’s our favourite part about refurbs, not annihilating the building’s past, but celebrating it. It’s been a rewarding process to help stabilise and adapt such a characterful building, ensuring it can be enjoyed for many years to come in its new role.
Both projects are a good reflection of the variety of work we’re fortunate to be involved in, from large-scale site remediation and redevelopment through to the sensitive refurbishment of existing structures. While they’re very different schemes, they ultimately both come down to the same thing. Understanding what’s already there and making sure it fits its purpose in the future.
We’re looking forward to sharing more updates as both schemes continue to progress on site.
