The Growth and Economy Committee met to discuss the implementation of the Growth Strategy, a proposal for a Rural Regeneration Fund, and a review of options for redundant mills in Leek and Biddulph. The committee agreed to receive an update on the Growth Strategy, and to consider proposals for the Rural Regeneration Fund and for dealing with the redundant mills.

Redundant Mills in Leek and Biddulph

The committee considered a review of the options for the development of redundant mills in Leek and Biddulph. The review, undertaken by Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), looked at current planning policies, market demand, viability and delivery, and offered recommendations for how the mills should be prioritised and what their best potential use might be.

Leek Mills

Six mills in Leek were identified as priorities due to their historic value, level of risk, or location in key sites:

• London Mill, Ashbourne Road
• Cross Street Mill
• Well Street Mill
• York Mill, Ashbourne Road
• Big Mill, London Street
• London Mill, London Street

The review found that there was clear interest and support from landowners to redevelop the mills, but that viability issues have restricted redevelopment. It also found that the current planning policy is not hampering delivery, as a number of consents have been approved.

The review made a number of recommendations, including:

• Retaining planning support for conversion of the mills to residential use.
• Considering a Compulsory Purchase Order¹ as a last resort to secure public ownership of the buildings.
• Developing an Area Action Plan² for the cluster of mills around Well Street, Cross Street, York Street and London Mill.
• Setting up a Leek Mill Task Force.
• Placing all vacant mills on the council's brownfield register³.

Biddulph Mills

Three surviving mills have been identified in Biddulph – Albion Mill, Minster Mill and Yarn Mill.

The review found that the residential market in Biddulph is healthy and stable, but the commercial market is weak. It also found that there are no planning policy restrictions that are causing undue constraints on delivery.

The review made a number of recommendations, including:

• Considering the conversion of the mills to commercial use.
• Considering the conversion of the mills to residential use, particularly apartments for rent.
• Placing vacant mills on the council's brownfield register or the newly emerging brownfield passport.
• Considering the application of a Local Development Order⁴ to help set a planning framework for the mills.

Next Steps

The committee agreed that the next steps should be:

Leek Mills:

• Prioritise Big Mill, given its listed status and status as a Building at Risk.
• Engage with owners of Well Street, York Street and Cross Street mills to understand their appetite for development.
• Engage with the developers at London Mill on London Street to understand the timeframe for delivery of apartments.
• Engage with all possible sources of funding to understand restrictions on applicants and eligibility.

Biddulph Mills:

• Engage with the agent for Minster Mill to understand timescales for submission of planning application and delivery.
• Engage with all possible sources of funding to understand restrictions on applicants and eligibility.

Rural Regeneration Fund

The committee considered a proposal for a Rural Regeneration Fund, which would provide grants to parish and town councils, and constituted voluntary and community organisations, for projects that attract visitors and residents to town and village centres.

The fund would provide grants from £500 to £4,000 per applicant, and applicants would be expected to raise between 20% and 50% of the total project cost from other sources. The funding pot would be £30,000 per annum for 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Eligible projects could include:

• Improving public display boards and signage.
• Part-funding shop front grant schemes managed by parish and town councils.
• Production and promotion of local walking and cycling trail maps.
• Improvements to the accessibility of high streets and visitor attractions for disabled visitors and residents.
• Small scale environmental tidy ups of public green spaces.
• Part funding for creative and heritage events accessible to the public.

Proposals would be assessed against the following themes:

• Improving signage, wayfinding, interpretation and trail maps.
• Supporting creative, heritage and makers events.
• Improving accessibility in towns and villages.
• Part funding shop front grant schemes.
• Improvements to a park, green, or recreational space.
• Improvements to hard landscaping and public realm.

Proposals would also be assessed against deliverability criteria, including timescales for delivery, level and security of match funding, and value for money.

Recommendations will be considered by Councillor Darren Price, Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning, and Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism.

Growth Strategy Implementation Update

The committee received an update on the implementation of the Growth Strategy. Lorraine Wright, Head of Regeneration, advised that there was no substantive planning update as no Local Plan Steering Group had taken place since the last Growth and Economy Committee meeting.

The update covered a number of actions, including:

• Biddulph Wharf Road: Discussions with potential developers and liaison with Assets regarding licences/leases for the industrial units.
• Tunstall Road Masterplan: Liaison with Planning Policy as part of Local Plan Review to consider reviewing the allocation in Local Plan review.
• Leek Cornhill: Liaison with developer regarding expected start on site and refreshing the masterplan for the area.
• Blythe Vale: Jointly commissioning a technical report with Staffordshire County Council to explore opportunities for housing growth in Blythe Vale area alongside the Fifty500 initiative.
• Cheadle Masterplan: Masterplan refresh in motion.
• Market Improvements (LUF): Thom Bateman 'Nanny J's' due to open and events timetable throughout Autumn to Christmas.
• Nicholson Institute improvements: Refurbishment works to start end Sept 2025 and UKSPF funding to restore mural – work to start early Sept.
• Cheadle Town Centre: Regeneration Team attending Cheadle Town Council meeting on 8th Sept.
• Development of Cheadle Market: Preferred option/recommendation endorsed by the Growth & Economy Committee in July and approved via Cabinet Delegated Decision. Feasibility/Design commission in motion.
• Biddulph Town Centre Masterplan: Planned engagement with Biddulph Town Council to consider updated Town Centre Masterplan.
• Ball Haye Green: Liaison with Assets regarding engagement with the landowner – no positive response as yet.
• UKSPF Local Investment Plan 2025-26: Total budget for 25/26 of £1,244,581, including Rural Funds.
• Moorlands Partnership Board: Next Meeting 17th November and budget of £50,000 for 2025/26.
• Empty Property Strategy: Updated Empty Property Strategy scheduled for Resources Overview and Scrutiny Panel 24th September.
• Strategic review to increase the supply of affordable and supported housing: Local Partnerships review nearing completion Scheduled for Growth and Economy Committee in autumn.
• Options for the Leek Moorlands House site to support the accommodation review: Accommodation Review Working Group – 1st September 2020
• Staffordshire Moorlands Tourism Partnership: Next TPF meeting is Sept (date TBC)
• Accommodation Acceleration Plan: Item on Agenda for 10th September Service Delivery – Adam Gough attending to present findings.
• Review and refresh current business engagement activities: Business support programme in place for 25/26 using UKSPF.
• Skills: Programme funded by UKSPF with 3 strands – Budget of £280,000
• Strengthen relationships with the district's large employers: Research completed key local businesses – from employment and turnover perspective
• Maintain membership of the Staffordshire Moorlands Chambers of Commerce: Principal Officer (Economic Development) attends regular meetings with the Chamber.
• Work with SCC via the Staffordshire Moorlands Growth Board: Board met 31st July 2025
• Engage with town and parish councils to establish new Town Centre & Locality Partnerships: Parish Cluster meetings throughout July, August, Sept.
• Utilise the capacity of the Council's controlled company Alliance Norse to support project delivery: Alliance Norse are supporting delivery of major capital projects (LUF) through technical advice.
• Develop a comprehensive investment prospectus for potential investors and developers: Tender document prepared to commission a prospectus.