Is a new music venue with studio and music therapy space coming to Islington Mill?

Plans have been submitted for a new music venue with a recording studio and music therapy space.

Written by Declan Carey
Last updated 2 months ago
Culture, Music

A restored mill in Salford could become the city’s newest music space.

Plans have been submitted to convert half of the ground floor in New Islington Mill into a space for performances, education, music therapy, and offices.

New Islington Mill

The mill is owned by Salford City Council and rented out to Islington Mill Arts Club.

It is part of a group of buildings called The Other City, an artist-led community-based at the site.

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Music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins is proposing to take up some of the mill space for its work.

The charity uses music as a way to encourage self-expression and have a positive impact on wellbeing.

The Other City

The Other City complex is currently being used as artist studios, rehearsal spaces, and co-working areas.

Proposals submitted include creating recording studios on the first floor, as well as a music therapy space and auditorium space for performances on the ground floor.

History of the New Islington Mill

Sections of New Islington Mill were built in stages between 1823 and the 1890s.

It is part of a Grade II Listed mill complex which was used for cotton spinning.

According to Historic England, the mill partially collapsed in 1824 due to structural failures.

The mill’s revival began in the 1990s when an artist hired a studio space in the partially-abandoned building, which later grew when more people got involved in projects on the site.

It is now home to more than 100 resident artists and groups, and the completion of refurbishment works in the New Islington Mill site has opened up the chance to expand the site once again.

A building of historic importance

A heritage statement submitted as part of the plans stated that the building is of “historic importance” and should be “sensitively adapted” to its current needs.

Mills around Greater Manchester have been restored in recent years and used for various purposes, from new apartments to offices.

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