Sheffield based contractor and developer, JF Finnegan, has been appointed to transform two historic mill buildings into 75,000 sq ft of new offices at the established Dean Clough development in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Dean Clough is a thriving, privately-owned business community of over 4,000 people in Halifax. The 22 acre site was once the world’s largest carpet factory and is today home to over 140 businesses including numerous retail and leisure uses, as well as being one of Yorkshire’s most prominent arts centres. It boasts galleries, a theatre and studios, hosting a series of music and comedy events in addition to a rolling programme of exhibitions within its galleries. Dean Clough is also home to a unique outlet store for the popular fashion brand, Jack Wills.
JF Finnegan has been awarded a 12 month contract to fully refurbish two mill buildings to deliver 50,000 sq ft and 25,000 sq ft of office accommodation over the two buildings. Work is scheduled to start on site in December 2014 and once complete will see local employer Covéa Insurance occupying both mills to support their growing business. The regeneration of these mills will see the reuse of the last 2 major mills yet to be converted at Dean Clough and will see the development move onto its next phase of regeneration, which will include further retail, leisure and residential uses within the 22 acre site.
The two mills were originally built between 1841 and 1844 and have been unused since the early 1950’s. In creating the new offices for Covéa Insurance, the mills will be brought back into use and their future preserved contributing to the long-term regeneration of the Halifax area.
Gary Smith, Managing Director of JF Finnegan, commented; “Mill buildings such as these play an important part of the region’s heritage and we are delighted to be sensitively restoring them and bringing them back into use as high quality offices. Having worked on similar historic schemes such as Butcher Works and Wards Exchange in Sheffield, we are utilising our experience in this field and approaching the project with the same attention to detail.”
Jeremy Hall, Chairman and Managing Director of Dean Clough Ltd, said; “We are thrilled to be working with the Covéa Insurance team to restore these wonderful buildings for their business.”
“A & B Mills sit at the very heart of Dean Clough, and their redevelopment will bring an incredible boost to the activity and dynamism of the site.”
“Dean Clough’s latter-day success has been wholly dependent on relationships that are based on shared values and aspirations. The partnership with Covéa Insurance is yet another illustration of this and will bring the last of the remaining large mills back into creative use.
“The regeneration of Dean Clough Mills is focused on the creation of a quality mixed-use environment where people want to work and which people want to visit.
“This project and our partnership with Covéa Insurance will broaden the Dean Clough experience and will lead to the next exciting stages of its development.”
