Multi-million pound student flats revamp of Lancaster mill given thumbs up

Friday, 27 June 2025 12:25

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

An image of how the revamped Mill Hall might look.

A £10m transformation of student flats in a historic former Lancaster mill has been given the green light.

Lancaster City Council has granted planning permission for a conversion of 96-bedroom student flats to 62 high standard studio apartments at Mill Hall on Moor Lane.

A new three storey front extension linking the Mill and annexe, and cafe open to students and the wider public will also be created.

The council's planning regulatory committee agreed planning permission for the scheme, at a meeting at Morecambe Town Hall on Monday.

Agreeing planning permission, subject to conditions, was proposed by Councillor Sandra Thornberry and seconded by Councillor Keith Budden:

Upon being put to the vote, 12 councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and no abstentions.

Below, Mill Hall in Lancaster.

Mill Hall is owned by Afar Properties Limited and managed through Unipad Management Limited—both under the ownership of local developer Anas Mister.

A spokesperson for Unipad Management Ltd said the plans would "modernise an existing student accommodation block that has fallen into disrepair, delivering significant benefits for local residents, creating jobs, and preserving the city’s industrial heritage".

The Grade II listed Mill Hall was built as a steam-powered worsted mill in 1819 by Thomas Higgin & Co and subsequently operated by Gregs of Styal and then Storey Brothers.

The building was converted into a cotton spinning factory by 1828, and to student accommodation in 1988-89.

You can read much more about the plans in our stories here.

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