A KEIGHLEY man has spoken of his plans to buy and breathe new life into historic Dalton Mills.

Tim Rogers is chief executive officer of Future Transformation, a not-for-profit organisation which hopes to acquire the Keighley mill complex from the Crown Estate.

He wants to firstly secure the 19th-century site, then eventually turn it into a thriving venue for businesses and the community.

Mr Rogers says current modelling suggests it would cost around £100 million to fully restore Dalton Mills over an anticipated 15-year period.

The mill, which has been used as a set for the filming of many movies and TV programmes, was given up to the Crown Estate after the company which previously owned it was dissolved via a compulsory strike-off.

Earlier this month, two teenagers were found guilty of starting a huge fire which gutted the historic mill complex in 2022. And there has been a number of separate blazes at the site since.

Mr Rogers says: "I’ve had grandparents and aunties who worked in Dalton Mills when it was a working mill – I really care about it.

“If we take ownership and responsibility of the site, first and foremost we would ensure it is secured properly, working alongside organisations like Bradford Council and Historic England, and then we would be able to start the process of restoring it.

“Firstly, you have got the clock tower – we see that as space for businesses, for innovation, for wealth creation.

“You’ve got the big mill area that was set on fire in 2022 – we see that as being community space, providing things for people in the area, like health services, a library and entertainment and cultural attractions.

“Then you’ve got the big mill at the back – we see that as a space where we can help to promote green technologies of the future.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, we would make it a community asset, helping to safeguard its future.”

He adds: “In terms of development prices per square metre, Dalton Mills is never going to make a profit because there isn’t the growth, demand and market in Keighley – but somebody has got to step up and take it on otherwise we will lose this heritage asset.”

He said the total renovation costs would be covered by a “mixed model” including funding from Future Transformation, grants, investors and eventually revenue from letting space to businesses.