Henley Restoration and Remedials has been appointed by City Life Developments as principal contractor for the restoration and structural transformation of Midland Mill, one of Leeds’ oldest surviving textile mills.
Built in 1793, the restoration of Midland Mill marks a key phase in the wider Sky Gardens development within the South Bank regeneration zone.
Henley’s appointment marks the start of a highly specialist programme of works. Several elevations will be fully dismantled and rebuilt, and structural reinforcement will be carried out using precision stainless steel components fabricated by HZS Stainless Steel, providing support to the existing timber, masonry, and concrete, securing the building’s long-term stability and heritage character.
Early works include the removal and replacement of damaged stone cills and the stripping of the existing asbestos slate roof. Henley’s in-house teams will then undertake the roof replacement, installing a new steel structure, fabricated by HZS Stainless Steel, topped with a natural slate covering integrated with solar PV tiles.
Specialist façade cleaning will be carried out and a comprehensive external repair programme will restore the building’s envelope. The restoration also involves the bespoke manufacture and installation of timber sash and Georgian windows, matched to the original profiles.
“This is a flagship heritage project and a major undertaking,” said Tom Cardoe, managing director – restoration, Henley Construction Management Group. “Our role isn’t just to preserve the past, it is to structurally future-proof it. This is where Henley sets itself apart: we plan, we build, we restore, all in-house.”
Gareth Morgan, managing director at City Life Developments, said: “Appointing Henley Restoration and Remedials Ltd was an easy decision. Their experience, attention to detail, and genuine respect for heritage buildings made them the natural choice. Midland Mill sits at the heart of Sky Gardens, a major development for Leeds, and we look forward to seeing it brought back to life as a symbol of the city’s evolving future.”
