A plan to transform a historic Grade II listed windmill into a 12-bed HMO has caused concern.
The redbrick edifice in Preston was constructed in 1760 and is the last of its kind in the Lancashire town.
Since it ceased milling in the late 19th century, it has seen numerous other uses as an overflow prison, garage, piano workshop, World War Two-era cinema and a merchant’s storage warehouse.
However, the Cragg’s Row mill has been abandoned for decades now.
In January 2024, Preston City Council approved plans to convert the landmark, on Cragg’s Row, into a 10-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) over seven floors.
But now property-firm Simca Investments has submitted new plans requesting 12 bedrooms, sparking worries that the move could see the historic location turned into another crowded rental block.
The property firm is calling for the demolition of an adjoining annexe and the construction of a three-floor extension.
The Labour leader of Preston Council, Councillor Matthew Brown, said he’d welcome the windmill being brought back into use.
But he added: ‘I’d prefer to have no more HMOs within the ward. We’ve got an oversaturation – that’s the reality of it.
‘As a council, we’ve been looking at introducing a policy to ban any new HMOs, unless there is a very clear planning reason.’
Councillor Pav Akhtar, Labour, who also represents the Plungington ward where the windmill stands, said: ‘The building is an important part of Preston’s industrial heritage.
‘Understandably, there is local concern about its future use, the intensity of the proposed development, and the potential impact on the character of the area.
‘As one of the local ward councillors, my priority is ensuring that any development is appropriate for the community, respects the historic value of the site, and aligns with local planning policy.
‘Residents rightly expect developments in Plungington to contribute positively to the area rather than add to existing pressures around housing density, parking, and community cohesion.’
Previous developers put forward strategies to convert the listed building into holiday homes with 12 en-suite units spread across six floors.
If this project is allowed to go ahead, then the accommodation will likely be given to migrants, but how about spending our money on our citizens, such as veterans, many of whom have been on the front line?
That won’t happen, of course, because our politicians are signalling to the world just how good and woke they are by doing this, and why spoil all their attention because that’s all that they want so that they can get a vote.
Even though many women and children are being raped, killed, and mistreated, our government continues to provide housing for them in our towns. They genuinely don’t care that it’s so repulsive.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 