PRESS RELEASE: SAVE calls for investigation into ‘hasty and ill-informed’ decision over mill buildings

SAVE expresses concern over apparent failure to fully brief Newton Abbot councillors on key facts – such as developer’s interest in buying historic site.

6 August 2024

SAVE Britain’s Heritage has written urgently to the Chair and Managing Director of Teignbridge District Council calling into question the decision-making process at a crunch meeting on the fate of a historic mill development in Newton Abbot.

SAVE, a national heritage charity, is deeply concerned that councillors were rushed into a hasty and ill-informed decision that will ultimately short-change the people of Newton Abbot.

We are concerned that key facts were also misrepresented or absent from briefing packs given to councillors at the Full Council meeting on 30th July.

Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said: “We are concerned about a range of issues relating to the decision-making process around this highly controversial decision.

“We remain confident that the buildings at Bradley Lane Mills, some of which have only been vacant since 2022, others which are still occupied, would make a fantastic addition to a new much-needed housing development on this site, as our alternative vision showed.

“It's not just SAVE that recognises the potential of these buildings, the Victorian Society, World Monuments Fund Britain, Newton Abbot & District Civic Society and Historic Buildings & Places have all raised concerns.

“We believe councillors should not be rushed into hasty and highly controversial decisions about demolishing their heritage buildings.”

Questions have also been raised in the local press, with the Mid-Devon Advertiser reporting: “Vote to demolish Newton Abbot site could be unlawful”.

SAVE’s formal complaint, submitted to the council on 5th August, raises a number of concerns:


Pressure to vote

We do not consider that councillors were given enough time to give full and proper consideration to the resolution they were asked to vote on (namely, the principle of demolishing the buildings at Bradley Lane Mills). Councillors themselves asked for a month’s adjournment so they could properly consider the facts, but their request was rejected.

The council’s proposal to divert public funds intended for a new cinema to instead demolish these historically significant buildings was only made public on 9th July. It represented a surprise U-turn by the council which had previously favoured reusing the buildings. The funds must be committed by the end of September and we believe this alone, rather than careful consideration of what is best for Newton Abbot, drove the council’s hurried decision.


Historic England’s concerns

Historic England’s recommendation that the buildings be retained and possibly granted conservation area status was omitted from the officers’ report which simply said the government’s heritage advisor did not consider them worthy of listing. (The bar for listing is very high so this does not mean a building is insignificant.)


Heritage significance

As a transcript of the debate reveals, councillors were ill-informed about the heritage significance of Bradley Lane Mills. It appears many had not had the chance to read the positive heritage appraisal of their own conservation officer. This is not surprising since his report was not included in the meeting pack.


Expression of interest

An expression of interest from an experienced developer interested in buying the site and reusing the buildings to create a vibrant mixed-use district of affordable homes and workplaces was made to the council on 24th July, once a previous agreement with a housebuilder had expired.

We were alarmed that this was only raised with the committee after an intervention by a member of the public. Even then the council’s deputy leader told the meeting he did not know who this had come from, despite the offer being emailed directly to him and senior colleagues by the developer himself with a request to discuss it.

Since the meeting, the developer has written to the council again restating his interest and sharing more detail about his proposal.

 

A gift to the future from Newton Abbot’s historic past

The characterful buildings of Bradley Lane Mills tell the story of the town’s rise to prosperity during the Industrial Revolution. The site, right on the edge of the town centre, has a milling history dating back to the 13th century, though the existing buildings were rebuilt after a fire by the famous Vicary’s leather tanners in 1883. Demolition would destroy forever this tangible link with Newton Abbot’s history.

SAVE believes the buildings can be a vital and sustainable part of the town’s future appeal, blending heritage buildings with contemporary uses – while also avoiding the huge carbon cost of a new development. This is a popular view locally, with support for reusing the buildings polling at over 90%.

In 2022 SAVE commissioned architect Jonathan Dransfield to design a vision for how the site could be converted into a lively, mixed neighbourhood. Historic buildings would be converted into work and community space, 111 dwellings and 28 affordable housing units, with the potential for more. This alternative vision notably aligns with the guidance on heritage and sustainability set out in the adopted Teignbridge Local Plan 2013-2033, in particular the policy to “seek to retain buildings” in the Bradley Lane area. We presented this vision at a public meeting last year which we co-hosted with Newton Abbot & District Civic Society (NADCS). Significantly, the then leader of the council (now MP for Newton Abbot) Martin Wrigley made a point of openly backing the scheme.

An exciting opportunity exists to create something deeply rooted in the town’s identity at this important site.

ENDS
 

Notes to editors:

1/ For more information contact lydia.franklin@savebritainsheritage.org or call the office on 020 7253 3500.
2/ Download a copy of SAVE's alternative vision here.
3/ Read our most recent press release on Bradley Lane Mills here.
4/ Newton Abbot & District Civic Society has also questioned the council's decision-making process.
5/ SAVE Britain’s Heritage is an independent voice in conservation that fights for threatened historic buildings and sustainable reuses. We stand apart from other organisations by bringing together architects, engineers, planners and investors to offer viable alternative proposals. Where necessary, and with expert advice, we take legal action to prevent major and needless losses.