BOSSES of the company which has bought the beleaguered Salthouse Mills in Barrow have revealed their vision for the site.

New owners Hiltongrove plan to turn the mills into "a smart industrial area aimed at businesses who need significant storage facilities", it can be revealed.

The firm exclusively showcased its plans as it also offered updates on the work it has been doing to College House in Barrow.

Run by Guy Davis who has strong links to south Cumbria, London-based Hiltongrove bought Salthouse Mills for £500,000.

Mr Davis, whose wife hails from Broughton, where the couple have a second home, met The Mail at College House in Duke Street, to discuss his vision.

He said: "We’ve had the entire site securely fenced off, so no vehicles can gain unauthorised access, and security cameras are now going up.”

The beefed up security comes in response to criticisms aimed at previous owners who failed to prevent fly-tipping at Salthouse Mills.

“For the foreseeable future we want to improve the mills and run it as a smart industrial area aimed at businesses who need significant storage facilities,” Mr Davis added.

In 2008 Manchester-based property developers Amstone bought the mills off local businessmen Robin and Mark Walmsley, whose father had owned the site since 1972, for around £1.35m.

In the 10 years since, Amstone failed to develop it or obtain planning permission. This failure to act could be explained by a crushing overage provision on the land added to the title by Mr Walmsley.

The overage provision is a requirement of any owner of Salthouse Mills to give 40 per cent of any increase in value, as a result of planning permission being obtained, to the Walmsley brothers.

In 2017 Amstone put the site on the market for £1.6m and earlier this year they agreed to sell the land to Leftfield Group from Manchester but that fell through because of legal issues - potentially, again, because of the overage provision. Hiltongrove then purchased the site.

Mr Davis said: "We will look at developing Salthouse Mills for residential use in the future but that overage provision is in place for another 18 years so that will influence what we do with the site.

“There is great potential to improve what is already there.”

"Salthouse Mills will, for the foreseeable future, make for an excellent light industrial zone. We have already made great strides in clearing the site up and are now working hard to renovate the existing buildings.

" While long-term the site may prove ideal for residential use, our focus now is on improving the site for those commercial tenants already located there and to encourage new ones to move to Salthouse."

Mr Davis and director John Cullen showed off the work being carried out in the former gym at College House which, once completed, will be leased out on a ‘hot desk’ basis.

Space will start from £50 a week and Mr Davis is confident there is a strong demand for smaller, modern office space in Barrow. The remainder of College House is already occupied.

Describing himself as someone who “loves to invest in up-and-coming areas” Mr Davis revealed he had already ploughed £300,000 into College House.

He said: “I’m really excited about the future business and investment prospects of Barrow. Everything we’ve done is designed with the small business owner in mind.”

"John and I met with the council leader and chief executive earlier this week to tell them of our plans, and we were both very impressed with the council's positive "can do" approach to business and inward investment.

"I believe in Barrow and from all my interactions with those living and working in the area, I would sumise that the business of Barrow is Business. The future is very positive and very exciting."