From Mills to Market Halls: how heritage can power housing and regeneration

A chance to create connected, sustainable communities

Repurposing these buildings would not only help achieve housing targets sustainably but also benefit local communities. Many sites are well suited to mixed-use developments, with commercial, healthcare and leisure buildings alongside residences, offering opportunities to create integrated and connected neighbourhoods. At the same time, the sites also offer opportunities for residents and the public to re-engage with their local heritage. Investment could also attract tourism, with seven of England’s top ten visitor attractions being heritage sites, generating around £18 billion annually.

Investing in existing buildings is both economically and environmentally sensible. With the low-carbon economy projected to expand 11% annually through to 2030, retrofitting existing buildings will play a vital role in the shift towards sustainable energy use.

Investors sought for 17 heritage sites

The prospectus showcases 17 heritage sites, ranging from mills and colliery buildings to market halls and pumping stations, where owners are currently seeking investment partners or buyers. A large portion of the vacant historic buildings are disused mills and industrial sites in the North of England.

Each entry provides a summary of the site’s significance, protection status, development potential, recent planning activity and site plans. It also contains contact details of local Historic England experts for each site. Notable sites include Dover Citadel, Dalton Mills, Torquay Pavilion, Chatterley Whitfield Colliery, Burslem Market Hall, and the iconic Surrey Street Pumping Station in Croydon.

The Pumping Station, an enduring Victorian structure embedded in Croydon’s Old Town, is highlighted for its potential to energise the area. Local advocates and the MP see its sensitive reuse as a chance to celebrate history while driving regeneration. Dalton Mills in Keighley, once among the largest textile mills in Yorkshire, is featured for its capacity to spark new life in the town. Vacant since a devastating fire in 2022, the site is now seen as an opportunity to combine housing, workspaces and cultural use, turning industrial heritage into a catalyst for regeneration while retaining its landmark Tower Mill.

Future-proofing heritage assets

Preserving historic buildings without scope for change or ongoing reuse can result in decline. Alternatively, adaptation and repurposing offer a sustainable path to securing long-term viable use and conservation. The prospectus sets out a proactive strategy to harness heritage for economic, cultural, and social benefit.

Any proposed alterations to heritage assets and their setting must be carefully balanced against their significance. The requirement to strike a balance between conservation and providing a viable use for a site underscores the need for specialist advice, ensuring heritage values are respected as buildings evolve.

Further information

Contact George Duffield