LEIGH Spinners Mill has been awarded with an £8,500 investment package in order to maximise energy conservation inside the historic building.

Leigh Building Preservation Trust, which aims to transform derelict buildings into thriving community hubs, has been awarded the grant to research renewable and conservation energy options for the mill.

As part of the ongoing regeneration plans for the mill, the 'Greening our Mill' project will consider a range of options to maximise energy conservation, from insulation to battery storage, solar and recycling.

The project also aims to demonstrate how energy conservation measures can be adopted by community groups and for older industrial buildings.

This will help Leigh with its carbon net-zero aims as well as make energy usage cheaper for the host of community groups and business units which now use the Grader II listed mill's space.

Leigh Journal: The funding is part of ongoing plans to restore the historic mill (Pic: Wigan Council)The funding is part of ongoing plans to restore the historic mill (Pic: Wigan Council)

Peter Rowlinson, Leigh Building Preservation Trust's Director, said: “Maintaining historic buildings often means bringing them back to life in new and inspiring ways.

“We’re grateful that this funding from Electricity North West not only allows us to bring the landmark mill into the 21st century but to pave the way for the future.

“There are more than 1,200 mills remaining throughout the North West, so this is an opportunity for us to inspire others by demonstrating how an old industrial building can address climate change, reduce operating costs and create new opportunities for modern uses.”

Leigh Journal: The funding has been directed to maximise energy conservation (Pic: Wigan Council)The funding has been directed to maximise energy conservation (Pic: Wigan Council)

The funding has been awarded by Electricity North West, the electricity distribution network operator for the region, as part of its annual Powering our Communities scheme which supports the development of community and local energy initiatives.

Helen Seagrave, community energy manager at Electricity North West, added: “The North West has some of the most ambitious net-zero targets in the UK, and achieving them will require us all to play a part in using less power or generating greener, cleaner energy in future.

“We’ve been really inspired by the work that Leigh Building Preservation Trust does in the community and how it’s tackling this challenge head-on.”