YEADON'S first steam-powered mill and the industrial heritage of the area are under threat from a proposed housing development, it has been claimed.

Aireborough Civic Society is objecting to an application to build 23 town houses and two apartments with the partial demolition of Old Dog Mill in Miry Lane.

Civic Society chairman, Clive Woods, said: "We consider it to be an extremely serious threat to the Yeadon Conservation Area and the textile industrial heritage of the area."

He added the buildings proposed for demolition are a very important part of the heritage, history and character of Yeadon as a former mill town, and he argues employment land is in short supply after recent losses, such as Springhead Mills in Guiseley and the Naylor Jennings site.

In his objection to Leeds City Council, on behalf of Aireborough Civic Society, Mr Woods says: "Yeadon was an important West Riding mill town in Victorian and 20th Century times, and this history and its architecture makes it a very distinctive part of Leeds – as reflected in the logo of our Civic Society.

"The remaining mill buildings are very important if that distinctiveness is to be saved and, therefore, none of these heritage buildings should be demolished. It is our view the renovation of all the heritage buildings is essential to the long-term future of the Industrial Character Heritage Area of Yeadon."

He added: "The former single-storey textile mill building is an attractive building from all aspects. It is very important historically – it is one of Yeadon’s oldest mills, built by Joseph Cawthra in the 18th Century, and the first steam-powered mill in Yeadon.

"It was also the subject of a famous lockout in 1909 that lead to the Yeadon riots. It is next to the mill ponds that now form the Engine Fields Nature Area and forms an attractive, characterful background. It would adversely affect the nature reserve, especially if the buildings were demolished and replaced with residential."

Mr Woods pointed out that a recent Leeds City Council study identified employment land as being in short supply in the Yeadon Area, with much of it lost to residential development.

He said: "The former textile building would be ideal for workshops and small businesses, for which there is a shortage of premises."

Objections to the outline application have also been submitted by Leeds Civic Trust and by Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland.

The public are being urged to make their views known to Leeds City Council by February 12. Comments can be submitted at Link- publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage or by letter, quoting the reference Old Mill, Yeadon, Planning App 15/06800, to Leeds Planning Dept, Leeds City Council, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds LS2 8HD.