A historic mill in the Greenfield area of Saddleworth which played a part in supporting the war effort before falling derelict is coming to auction this week with planning permission for 38 apartments. 

Knoll Mill on Wellington Road was built around 1852 and was one part of the Wellington Mills complex, owned by cotton spinners, Shaw, Son and Lees.

It was then acquired in around 1858 by N Broadbent and Sons, who remained at the mill until 1932.

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The building has a rich historyThe building has a rich history (Image: Google Maps)

During the Second World War, the complex served several purposes to aid the war effort, such as producing parts for aircraft and serving as a naval store.

However, it then returned to its use by cotton spinners in 1946, when a firm from Shipley, West Yorkshire, arrived and established Knoll Spinning Company.

The Wellington Mills complex eventually closed down in the 1990s.

The abandoned Knoll Mill is the sole surviving structure after much of the site was converted into a Tesco supermarket.

Chartered ArchitectsAn illustration of how the derelict mill could look  (Image: Bruce and Bruce Chartered Architects/Oldham Council)

Identified as being in "poor condition", Oldham Council's planning committee met in August 2022 to approve an application to transform the derelict three-storey block into 38 self-contained apartments, comprised of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats.

The plans also outlined adding a lift tower and two additional floors, plus basement parking for up to 20 future occupiers as well as 14 external parking spaces on the ground floor.

The council approved the plans on the grounds that it strikes a balance between providing some much-needed housing to the borough and retaining most of the existing mill building.

Planning officers found the redevelopment of the site would significantly enhance the area.

Now, the historic structure is due to go to auction on Tuesday (July 23).

Auctioneers, Savills, has proposed a guide price of £875,000.

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