Jay Tee Group - Offices Development - Huddersfield

Date: 21 Jul 2008

An iconic Grade II* listed building on the edge of Huddersfield town centre, which is being converted into high-quality offices, will be open for business in September.

The 19th century Folly Hall Mills, which overlooks the River Colne, is being transformed into 60,000 sq ft of modern 21st century offices. The £6 million development was officially launched this week by Coun Ken Sims, the cabinet member for regeneration with Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council.

Dewsbury-based developers, the Jay Tee Group, are reporting a very encouraging list of enquiries in the old woollen mill, which has been vacant since 1993. The Jay Tee Group bought the mill from Amco plc for a sum in excess of £1 million in 2005. It was previously owned by Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council.

Coun Sims commented: "I am delighted to be launching this excellent development. It is a most brilliant site and I am sure, with a lot of hard work by both the private and the public sectors, it will be a tremendous success. It will be a great asset for Huddersfield and is just what we need in the 21st century."

Paul Bailey, project director, commented: "This is a tremendous development for Huddersfield. It will involve significant regeneration of the riverside area, creating new employment opportunities and raising the profile of Huddersfield as a major office destination in the region."

"Altogether there is 60,000 sq ft of prime office space over five floors, which can be leased or bought. This space can be divided into office units from 2,000 sq ft upwards. We feel they will prove very attractive to professional services firms of all sizes, as well as to the public sector.

"The interior of Folly Mill is absolutely stunning, with vaulted ceilings, spiral staircases and exposed beams. It will be an absolutely wonderful place to work," he explained. "Phase One of our development involves the conversion of the first of the two riverside buildings, with Phase Two starting in the autumn"

There is also consent for a 2,500 sq ft restaurant on the ground floor, which will service the office development and also be open to the general public.

The development will feature a new steel and glass structure linking the two historic mills with the old engine house to create a single office building with underground parking. Overall there will be space for 200 cars.

The joint agents for the scheme are Eddisons and Michael Steel and Co. Paul Andrew, head of agency at Eddisons, commented: "There are a number of prestigious schemes being proposed for central Huddersfield, but Folly Hall will be the first to deliver the high-quality accommodation, so full of character, that is preferred by many modern businesses and organisations."

Alec Michael of Michael Steel and Co added; "There have already been a number of positive enquiries from both local and regional companies for substantial space within the scheme and, given the lack of similar high-quality office space close to the town centre, we have no doubt that this development will be extremely successful."

Folly Hall, which was originally built in 1844, boasts a fantastic riverside location at the bottom of Chapel Hill and next to the Grosvenor Leisure complex in Huddersfield. It is just to the south of the Huddersfield ring road, which provides excellent links to the Kirklees area as well as to Junctions 24 and 25 of the M62 and the national motorway network.

The mill, which operated until 1982, was renowned internationally for the quality of its worsted and suits were made for world-famous politicians such as Jimmy Carter and Jim Callaghan. It was owned by the Lumb family.

Paul Bailey commented: "The mill was a centre of excellence in the 19th and 20th centuries - and we are delighted that it is becoming a centre of excellence again."

Funds for the £6 million redevelopment were secured from Handelsbanken, who have recently opened an office in Wakefield. Angela Dowd, corporate manager, commented: "This is an iconic building, which I can't wait to see being restored back to its former glory".

Folly Hall Mills

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