THE fate of a major project to transform the derelict mill site in Okehampton into a business and community hub could be decided in the coming weeks.

West Devon Borough Council is going through a tendering process looking at schemes to redevelop the mill site. A steering group that has put together a plan for a business centre on the site, devoted to the requirements of small and medium sized enterprises, is going through that process, and awaiting the results. 

Maddy Carragher, a member of the steering group behind the mill project, said: 'The latest is we have raised half the money we need for the project, which is just over £1 million, and we are now waiting for the green light.

'There is a covenant on the land saying that it has to have a community use as well. We have had plenty of people say a scheme like ours could not provide both business and community use. But one funds the other, so that there is community use.

'We are busy ploughing through, and hoping for a decision in the next six weeks. Rome wasn't built in a day, and nor was Okehampton. There are cynics but development always takes a long time.

'As a steering group we get nothing personally from this. However, we believe that Okehampton needs something like this. Give it a bit longer and hopefully we will have some positive news.'

In March, the borough's resources committee decided to appoint agents to re-market the site. Schemes presented to the council must fit key criteria, including sustainability over a long term period and meeting the covenant on the land that states the site must have a community use.

The steering group's plan is to demolish the existing derelict building, with the exception of the listed chimney stack, and build a new 20,000 square foot building which would offer small unit space from 200 square feet upwards, on flexible lease terms.

The centre will also offer meeting rooms, a café, a gallery, networking opportunities and access to wi-fi internet. For emerging micro-businesses, part-time co-working space will be available. There are also plans to have a restaurant on the top floor of the building.

To increase the benefits to the town community, the meeting rooms and gallery space would be available at reduced rates during evenings and weekends for community groups, and all businesses would be encouraged to recruit locally when seeking new employees.

Tim Capps, who runs Oxenham Consult, a project managing firm handling the design, said: 'It has been a long old road, but hopefully we will have some positive news on the scheme soon.'

In addition to the business space, students at Okehampton College are set to benefit from the centre's facilities, providing space for vocational training.

The centre would have a restaurant and café, which as part of its lease would provide valuable experience for catering students, providing work in a real business environment.

There are also plans to include a training facility for health, hair and beauty courses, and to create workshop space for artists in the area.

The mill's chimney stack is Grade II listed, and was built in the mid 19th century.

In the 19th century it was taken over by William Wood who reconstructed and enlarged it, setting up a fertiliser business, bone crushing plant and a condenser for the production of sulphuric acid. The acid was pumped through a pipe under Simmons Park to the station, but was abandoned after the pipe broke and caused smells in the town.

The new modern design incorporates several renewable energy elements, including solar panels, biomass and a hydro-electric system powered by the leat.

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