• Major fire rrupts at historic mill in Leek
• Around 40 homes evacuated; no injuries reported

An 18-year-old man has been arrested following a large fire at a historic mill in Leek, Staffordshire, prompting the evacuation of nearby homes.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to The Big Mill, a Grade II listed building on Mill Street, at 21:22 GMT on Friday.

Staffordshire Police said the suspect, from Leek, is being held on suspicion of arson with reckless endangerment.

Six fire crews battled the blaze at its height, with four remaining at the scene. Officials warned that part of the building will need to be demolished due to structural damage.

Martin Weaver, Staffordshire Fire Group Manager, said at the scene: “The building is now structurally unsafe, and there is concern it could collapse. We are working with local authorities, building inspectors, and demolition teams to make the site safe.”

He added: “The situation is dangerous at the moment, and we will have to reduce the risk to safe levels.”

No injuries have been reported. Fire services received 118 calls about the incident. Local residents said the abandoned building appeared “completely burned out” by 23:00.

Staffordshire Moorlands Police confirmed around 40 people were evacuated and officers were at a local Co-op on West Street arranging temporary housing and support for those affected. Anyone in need of emergency accommodation can contact the out-of-hours support line at 0808 169 2333.

The six-story mill, featuring a bell tower, dates back to 1860 and is among the oldest large mills in the town. It last operated as a mill in the 1980s before being converted into a pine workshop and storage facility, remaining derelict since 2007, according to Councillor Bill Cawley.

Cawley, representing Leek West for the Labour Party, said he had previously warned about safety hazards and antisocial behavior at the property, which had been purchased by a property developer.

Developer Atique Choudhury submitted plans in 2019 to convert the site into 55 residential flats. Cawley noted two prior fires at the site and confirmed that flammable materials, including wood, cardboard, and a can of petrol, had been removed from the basement. He also reported youths had been spotted on the roof in December 2024.

The councillor criticized the council’s slow handling of the development plans, explaining that a structural report was requested in 2022 but delayed by the developer. He described an online meeting last August with Choudhury as “chaotic,” with the developer and his architect joining from a busy London café, making their contributions difficult to hear.

Cawley added: “This shows the limited power a small district council has when dealing with developers.”