A FULL planning application for flats and homes at the site of an historic mill building has been submitted.

A small business centre currently occupies Baildon Mills, but resubmitted proposals for the site in Northgate, Baildon, to change it into residential use are now with Bradford Council.

The plan, which is proving controversial, includes 42 residential units, made up of nine one-bed flats, 27 two-bed flats and six three-bed flats. It also features an additional 14 four-bed homes.

The proposal, submitted by Leeds-based KMRE Group, will also include the conversion of the Grade II Listed building, which partly dates back to the 19th century, at the front of the site.

A large section of the site was converted into offices to let in the 1980s. There have also been further extensions to the existing mill building, including a warehouse.

A three-storey industrial shed-type building, to the back of the site and dating back to the 1960s, will be demolished as part of the plan.

KMRE Group held a two-day consultation in October last year at Baildon Mills to gauge public opinion on the proposal.

But it has been criticised by some of the 60 on-site firms, who claim the plan could turn Baildon into a “dormant town”.

Sara Mogford, owner of Assembly Marketing, which is based in Baildon Mills, said: “I’m angry about this. I’m not opposed to residential development in Baildon. I understand there is a need for housing in Baildon.

“But the developers are being short-sighted and not looking at the bigger picture.

“It should have always been a mixture of existing businesses and residential units on the site.

“The businesses that employ people at the mill use the town’s facilities during the day. People who buy these flats won’t spend all day here.

“Business are just moving out of the mill. I feel as if we are fighting a losing battle. Baildon could become a dormant town. It is going to impact on the economy.”

Kam Mogal, managing director of the KMRE Group, said it had taken onboard the views of the public during the consultation period.

He said: “The existing buildings are falling into disrepair. A lot of consultation and work has gone into the design of the whole thing.

“The existing features of the mill are to be retained and enhanced.

“To have a mixture of business and residential areas on a site like this is not an easy task. We have got the feedback from the public and everybody wanted to see what was going to be on the rest of the site, and that is the additional 14 homes.”