‘We know there’s a housing shortage, but this would be a huge loss for Salford’
In 1996, artist Bill Campbell spotted a sign at a former industrial mill in Salford advertising a space to rent. The building, constructed in 1823 for cotton spinning, had largely fallen into disuse by the 1990s.
Bill, who was living nearby, had plans to launch his career in the city, so took a chance – renting the fourth floor. Since then, he has become the owner of the Grade II-listed site known as Islington Mill, which is now a centre of art and culture in Salford and home to more than 100 creatives.
It has a community café and hosts regular events from live music to poetry. Many working there describe it as a ‘haven’ in a city that has battled deprivation and poverty.
The space around Islington Mill, on Oldfield Road, has seen major changes in recent years, with the street being hemmed in with apartment blocks on either side to accommodate Salford’s growing population.
One of the newest developments in the city will be on the Regent Trading Estate next to the mill. Bosses at the arts venue are worried it could put their future at risk.
A planning application from the English Cities Fund (ECF) for 90 new townhouses and flats on the land was approved after a tense meeting at Salford council on November 7.
One councillor said the development could lead to a repeat of what happened at Manchester’s Day and Night Café, when residents living near the Northern Quarter venue complained about noise levels and sparked a court case.
Bosses at Islington Mill, supported by the Music Venue Trust, asked Salford town hall to rethink plans to build, fearing it could cause noise complaints from future residents. The application was approved, with council officers saying tenants would not need to open their windows due to ventilation in the new apartments.
The approval has paved the way for unit two, one of the warehouse sites on Regent Trading Estate next to Islington Mill which used by its artists, to be demolished ahead of further work to build new homes.
Rebecca Power, the events licence holder, was at the Salford council planning meeting in November making the case for the building’s future.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s a very welcoming here. As Manchester and Salford residents, of course we’re up for more affordable housing, but we can’t allow it to happen and have our own livelihood at risk.
“There’s a fight between people’s livelihoods and having homes. We’re a community that has been here for years and we want to work together on this.”
Michelle Tatton, 39, is a Salfordian who has based her picture framing business next to the mill over the past year. “It’s great being here,” she said. “I used to be in unit two before it got knocked down.”
“There’s a shortage of homes and we need more social housing, but it’s about making a plan with us and not pushing us out. It can be done but it needs communication between the people moving in and us, and then being sympathetic that we are here.
“We do have events here so it should be developed with that in mind.”
Many of the creatives based in the mill say the building has given them a chance to launch their careers in Salford with cheap rents and support from a community of artists under one roof, but they fear the new homes could put all their futures at risk.
Rachel Goodyear, 46, from Oldham, is one of the studio holders at Islington Mill who has been part of the set up for more than two decades and helps to run it. After finishing university in Leeds more than 20 years ago, the fine artist found herself at a crossroads, faced with a decision of going to London or staying in the North.
Finding a studio space at Islington Mill kept her in Greater Manchester and has allowed her to make a living from her art in Salford, but she fears others may not have the same opportunity in future.
“I was going to go to London but got introduced to the mill so I stayed,” she said. “I’d like to think this place is keeping artists in Salford. For many artists here it’s their first chance to build their work before going out in the community.
“It would be a huge loss for Salford not to have the mill, there are very few places like this. There are so many businesses and creatives that work and build their lives here.
“When the mill first started there was not much around in Salford, but knowing that some of our neighbours are not happy, we don’t want that. We want to open up for everyone.
“People don’t just want to sit at home all day, they need places to go out and see live music and art.” Simon Buckley is another freelance artist who has been based in the mill for the past year.
He runs the Not Quite Light project, which captures moments of heritage and regeneration at dawn and dusk in Greater Manchester and has thousands of followers on social media. His work has been published nationally and internationally, and exhibited in the UK as well as France, Germany, Hong Kong and China.
Most of his life has been spent living in Salford, and around 12 months ago he ‘jumped at the chance’ of renting a studio at the mill when one became available. He now uses it for his work which includes running workshops.
Mr Buckley said building new homes next to music venues needs effort from all sides to live together, and that there is a ‘genuine desire to work with the community’ from the artists and creatives based in the mill.
“A city is a strange place that doesn’t always suit everyone’s needs,” he added. “I don’t always feel comfortable with what I see when I’m on the street, but that’s a city and we have to co-exist with that.”
While explaining the threat to the mill posed by new homes, Ms Power said the building faced similar problems when the Albert Mill apartments were built on the corner of James Street and Oldfield Road.
There are residents in Albert Mill who regularly make complaints about noise levels from events at Islington Mill, she added, saying that the last thing she wants is more people moving to the area who may not be aware they will be living next to a gig venue.
“But it’s very worrying for how we continue as a music venue,” Mr Power added. “The amount of work that we’ll have to do in future when people are making noise complaints is excessive, but hopefully it won’t come to that. We just want to co-exist.”
A Salford council spokesperson said: “Islington Mill is a vibrant venue in our city that is home to talented artists and hosts events such as cabaret evenings, experimental theatre and live music.
“Plans have now been approved by the council’s Planning Panel to build a new neighbourhood featuring 90 affordable homes at Oldfield road, which sits next to Islington Mill.
“This new scheme fits perfectly with our plan to provide more affordable homes for local people and makes use of our brownfield first approach to building new mixed communities.
“It is important to note that the Planning Panel uses national and local planning policies to make decisions and these include legal requirements and also public comments.”
ECF was contacted for comment.
