Booth Brothers Old Corn Mill Becomes the Green Corn Mill
In the quiet and idyllic rural of Bullhouse Mill the Old Corn Mill is undergoing a ‘Green’ transformation. The original c.1750’s corn mill is being carefully renovated, using existing materials where possible and the latest insulation and energy efficient building materials, into a 3 storey office that will exude natural light and open plan space.
The Bullhouse Mill site, which has been in family ownership for many years, has gradually been transformed into an attractive rural Business Park by its owners, Booth Brothers, who run their own promotional merchandise business from the site. The Business Park also includes the Bullhouse Mill Enterprise Hub, which is situated adjacent to the main offices. This facility offers the latest specialist office space consisting of six workstations with furniture, ICT and broadband access all for just £35 per week, per workstation.
Barnsley Development Agency’s John Heckingbottom has been supporting Booth Brothers for the past 18 months and recently caught up with Charles Booth to get an update on the Corn Mill’s progress.
Charles who is passionate about his work and his aim to become “Carbon Neutral” outlined his vision for the Corn Mill, saying; “The new build 2 storey extension will have a very high level specification and follow the same design principles throughout. When we began we had the overriding theme of insulation, insulation and more insulation. Then we added energy-efficient lighting, appliances and smart controls to minimise our Co2 emissions and of course, the ever increasing electricity and heating bills.”
Subject to the necessary Local Authority and Environment Agency (EA) planning permissions, the energy for the building will be provided by a combination of renewable energy initiatives generated from the wind, water and sun. This will include two wind turbines, two water turbines and solar PV panels.
His vision is to place the wind turbines in the adjoining pastures, the water turbines on the River Don which flows past the development and the solar PV panels on the adjoining roof. Winter heating will be provided by a geothermal water source over 100 metres below the building and delivered via under floor heating. This will also assist in the cooling of the building in the summer along with ‘passive air con’ which uses natural air flow to create a comfortable working atmosphere. In addition rainwater will also be harvested to flush the toilets.
When finished the building will offer the latest energy efficient office space for five businesses, who Charles hopes will be of the same eco friendly mindset.
His romantic vision has always been to return to water power which was used to mill corn in the building over a hundred years ago and this dream remains alive subject to EA approval!