Blueprints are being drawn up to breathe new life into a historic Gloucestershire market town mill and warehouse, currently described as a "sad eyesore".
The Borough Flour Mills in Tewkesbury, also known as Healing's Flour Mills, situated on Quay Street by the River Avon, has been showing signs of neglect in recent years.
The site boasts a rich milling heritage. Historic England notes that early 13th Century records refer to the location as the town mills. The 1825 town map depicts mill structures on the site.
By 1865, Samuel Healing had taken ownership of the mill, transforming it into a steam-powered roller mill. In its heyday in 1892, Healing's Flour Mill was hailed as the country's largest and most technologically advanced flour mill, capable of producing up to 25 sacks of flour per hour.
The Archer Daniels Midland Company acquired the site in 2003. In 2017, the then owners, Corbally Group Ltd—a subsidiary of the St Francis Group—put the site up for sale.
The complex is now derelict. But Tewkesbury Borough Council leaders have now revealed they are in discussions with the site's proprietors. The site could undergo a transformation akin to that of Gloucester Docks, albeit on a smaller scale.
The council envisions the area becoming a destination that draws both tourists and locals.
Council Leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said: "That whole waterfront has such a potential to become an asset for the town. Healing's Mill is such an important part of that."
"The mill itself has an interesting history and it revived the fortunes of the town when it was originally built.
"It has got the potential to help secure the town's future in attracting visitors, if we get this right."
During the recent full council meeting held on March 18, when the mill was discussed, Cllr Mike Styzmiack (Independent, Tewkesbury North and Twyning) queried the status of efforts to rejuvenate the site, noting that approximately £17,000 had been spent on safety measures in the past two years.
He said: "Healing's Mill has been shut for many years, and despite there being meetings every six weeks with the developers, there's been nothing to show the public regarding any improvement or progress on the site. The only thing people see is the blatant deterioration of the building which has become a sad eyesore to both visitors and residents alike.
"When are the public going to be engaged and shown what is planned for the site?"
Cllr Stanley said he has had multiple meetings with officers and met with the developers.
He said: "There have been discussions around us potentially buying some of the ground floor level of Healing's Mill.
"I appreciate from residents' view they haven't seen a change as yet but to reassure you there are changes afoot and there will be things in due course we can share.
"That fantastic mill is going to be a huge asset to our town and will be utilised. So I share your ambition."
Cllr Stymiack said: "The public are fed up with having to look at such an unloved and yet historic, derelict and unsafe building. But it has great potential to bring jobs, dwellings and business to the town."
He queried whether the council would consider compulsory purchase, which Cllr Stanley did not rule out.
"I make this sincere commitment about seeing that site brought forward," he said. "I want to see Healing's Mill as a real centre which draws people into the town. There is the opportunity with the new designer outlet village that we are going to have more people visiting on our doorstep."
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