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Heritage groups call on Teignbridge council to convert buildings in Newton Abbot rather than raze them
The wooded banks of the River Lemon, which tumbles through the town of Newton Abbot from the heights of Dartmoor, has long been a hive of activity, the site of corn and wool mills and tanneries that have employed thousands of people over the centuries.
But demolition crews are about to move in to clear a collection of mill buildings and make way for housing despite an outcry from local people and national conservation organisations which argue the historic structures should be saved and repurposed.
The National Trust and Save Britain’s Heritage are among a host of bodies that say it would be better on cultural and environmental grounds to preserve and convert the buildings rather than raze them.
Nature campaigners are also worried that the loss of Bradley Lane Mills will endanger creatures including bats that roost in five of the buildings, swifts that nest there and eels that live in the leat running through the plot.
Teignbridge district council, which owns the site, has been accused of rushing through the demolition, which is scheduled to begin on 6 January, because it needs to use money allocated from the UK government’s future high streets fund quickly or lose it.
Claire Stoyle, who lives near the site, called the plan shortsighted. “The buildings are wonderful. They have stood for years and should be repurposed. Nobody is against housing but we should be doing something with these buildings, not knocking them down.”
Jean Hayman, whose father used to work in the mills, said: “This is our history. It’s a special site.”
The chair of Newton Abbot and District Civic Society, Eloise Rokirilov, said there was anger that levelling-up money was being used to destroy rather than create. “It’s a place of great character that could become a flagship site for the town if treated with care,” she said.
She argued that at a time of climate emergency no local authority should be demolishing buildings when they had a viable second life. “There are places all around the country who are renovating old buildings and transforming them,” she said. “There’s a mentality that refuses to do that here.”
Mills and tanneries have operated on the site since medieval times, with early incarnations serving Bradley Manor. Since ceasing to operate as mills in the 1970s, the buildings have been used for vibrant businesses from music studios to car-repair shops, which have now left.
About 600 people have signed a petition protesting against the demolition or written letters of objection.
Nicole Ginn wrote: “Our area is already starting to look like every other town with cookie-cutter houses and the same shops. Let us hold on to our magnificent heritage.”
The National Trust, which owns Bradley Manor, said the demolition was a “missed opportunity to retain and utilise surviving historic buildings”.
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Save Britain’s Heritage produced its own vision, a “creative quarter” with loft-style apartments in the mill buildings and working areas for craftspeople.
It said: “We believe there is a broader, deeply concerning issue here about the use of government money intended for regeneration to demolish re-usable, council-owned historic buildings.”
Teignbridge council’s heritage officer described some of the structures as “of high local significance” and its legal team has declared them structurally sound, but the council appears to think the site will be more attractive for a developer if it is flattened.
A senior council officer warned members last summer that they risked losing more than £2m from the future high streets fund after a plan to open a new cinema was shelved if the cash was not used by the end of March.
The council issued a press release just before Christmas announcing the demolition start date. It said the project was being funded through the future high streets fund and other resources.
It said: “The demolition work is essential to release this key site for redevelopment and is a great opportunity for Newton Abbot.”
Devon council urged to halt demolition of historic mill buildings
