A historic Stockport mill could be completely transformed into new homes and apartments under new plans being put forward.

Compstall Mill off Andrew Street has been derelict for years but new investors hope to turn things around.

Woodford Land and Planning on behalf of Compstall Mill 2025 Limited, a company made up of investors, are moving their plans forward to 'bring the historically important site back into productive use'. This is ahead of a planning application later this year.

In December 2025, a group of developers including Buju Architects promised a 'landmark' regeneration project at the site near Romiley which could see more than 100 new homes built. A page on the firm's website said previous schemes had failed due to a lack of commercial viability but the latest plans could deliver 'a cost-effective, high value housing development that is respectful to the local heritage, improves biodiversity, and finally delivers on the site's potential'.

At the time, it was suggested Noah House, Victoria Mill, and Albert House could become apartments while new build homes could be built alongside the River Etherow and Andrew Street. Around the site's original water sheel, it was suggested this could become a new public space called the Heritage Garden.

Sarah Jackson, director at Compstall Mill 2025 Limited, said: "Compstall Mill is a historically important site which has unfortunately continued to deteriorate over a long period of time. Our ambition is to bring the site back into productive use through a high-quality regeneration scheme that respects its heritage while securing a long-term future for the site.

"These are still emerging proposals and we look forward to engaging with local residents, stakeholders and Stockport Council before submitting a planning application."

The Compstall Mill building was built in the 1830s with the nearby village of Compstall built by businessman George Andrew to house his 800 workers at the mills. The village's waterways were also built by Andrew to supply water from the weir to turn massive wheels supplying the mill's power and later a church, school, and Co-Op store opened in the village.

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In August 2024, there was a fire at the building causing thick plumes of smoke that could be seen for miles billowing overhead. Eight fire engines rushed to the scene to put out the flames and followed a fire earlier that year.

Compstall is currently listed as a conservation area by Stockport Council giving the area protections under planning law to preserve the area's character. The local authority's website said: "Compstall was an early rural industrial site, one of several significant in the history of cotton production in the Stockport area.

"The conservation area is particularly important for its industrial archaeology and features buildings, artefacts and sites relating to the development of the 19th Century cotton manufacturing and finishing works with their associated machinery and hydraulic engineering features."

A council report updated in 2012 said: "The survival of most of the workers' housing and contemporary buildings erected for social and spiritual welfare purposes means that Compstall is an important and remarkably uncompromised example of a complete rural industrial settlement developed by a single paternalistic employer during the early period of the Industrial Revolution.

"Limited modern residential development has occurred to the east of the 19th century workers' housing, but the historic and architectural identity of the early settlement remains distinct and the village retains a compact form.

"The attractive landscape setting is an important element of the character of the conservation area, and the dramatic contrast in topography between the steep scarp to the north of the Etherow and the flat plain to the south opens up extensive views as well as creating possibilities for interesting townscape."

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