Salford’s Islington Mill under threat of closure following development of local area
The longstanding music venue said its future is in “jeopardy” after plans to build housing nearby were approved
Longstanding Salford music venue Islington Mill has raised concerns about its future after plans to develop the local area were approved.
The team behind the venue explained in a post on Instagram last week that Salford City Council had given the green light on plans to build 90 affordable houses next door, with work already going ahead.
“It feels quite timely to be sharing what’s been going on at the Mill recently,” they said. “Many of you might have noticed, in the past couple of weeks, that the beloved Unit 2 has been demolished.”
Read this next: Motion Bristol appeals for support to prevent closure in 2025
According to Manchester Evening News, Islington Mill raised worries over the potential for noise complaints from those living in new housing. They shared their concerns with Music Venue Trust, who then wrote to the local council urging for appropriate measures to be taken to secure Islington Mill's future.
The venue, a six-storey, Grade II listed building sitting just off Chapel Street west of Manchester, has been operating as a music and art space for some 26 years.
While the team welcomes plans to build “integral housing” in the area, they explain: “We will continue to defend our existence in this neighbourhood”.
Read this next: North West England suffered most venue closures in the UK in 2023, study shows
“Despite voicing our concerns at a recent panel hearing, Salford City Council approved the go-ahead of this development. This puts our future as a music venue in jeopardy once again.”
Islington Mill says it is currently home to over 100 artists, and has hosted innumerous events over the years including Sounds From The Other City, Now Wave, Fat Out, Caustic Coastal, and more.
“We will continue to create, question and connect in the name of NOISE,” the venue said, calling itself a “space that has held lots of unforgettable events over the years”.
Read the full post from Islington Mill below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
Mixmag will use the information you provide to send you the Mixmag newsletter using Mailchimp as our marketing platform. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us. By clicking sign me up you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.
